DEFENCE

Departmental Records Office

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints from former staff of his Department employed by TNT have been raised with regard to the new process for handling departmental records and their security.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence Contract Management Team (CMT) has received a very small number of verbal criticisms concerning TNT's new processes for handling departmental records and their security from former MOD staff now employed by TNT. To facilitate investigation, written confirmation of the complaints was requested. None has yet been received.

Future Rapid Effects System

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he expects Galileo to play in providing the Future Rapid Effects System requirements with optimum battlespace awareness.

Adam Ingram: Galileo is intended to be a civilian system under civil control. The Department expects the GPS military code to continue to meet defence requirements for a robust, secure satellite navigation system. Accordingly, there are no plans for the use of Galileo by the MOD's Future Rapid Effects System.

Information and Communication Specialists

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many information and communication technology specialists are in full-time employment in the Department.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what screening tests have been established for (a) British troops, (b) British medical auxiliaries and (c) Iraqi civilians to assess the degree of inhalation and ingestion of depleted uranium dust during the military action in Iraq in (i) the Gulf war in 1991 and (ii) Operation Telic in Iraq in 2003; what resources have been committed to this testing; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: On 22 September 2004, the independent Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB) announced the establishment of a retrospective testing programme for the analysis of uranium isotopes in urine and, if Depleted Uranium (DU) is found to be present, how much. The test is available free of charge to eligible individuals, including medical staff, who served in the Gulf area between 1 August 1990 and 31 July 1991 or in the former Republic of Yugoslavia on or after 5 August 1994. The total cost of the testing programme will depend on demand but is expected to be in the order of £1 million.
	This retrospective test is entirely separate from MOD's own Biological Monitoring policy, under which all UK military personnel returning from theatres where DU munitions have been used—including Operation Telic—are offered a test for uranium in their urine. So far over 350 individuals have taken up this offer and have been tested. Of those, only a small number have been found to be excreting DU in their urine. These are personnel who were injured in accidental attacks by friendly forces and have embedded shrapnel. The cost to date of this programme is estimated to be £250,000. There will be a further annual staff cost of £25,000 for the duration of the project.
	Assessing the degree of inhalation and ingestion of DU dust arising from the military action in Iraq among Iraqi civilians is a matter for the Iraqi Interim Government. Nevertheless, the MOD would offer advice if requested.

Land Use Payments

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total amount was paid in each of the past three years to farmers and other landowners for the use of their land by his Department.

Adam Ingram: I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the total amount paid by the Ministry of Defence to farmers and other landowners for the use of their land in respect of military training. In the last three years this has amounted to approximately £1.7 million per annum. This figure includes the costs of: the leasing of land outside of Army Training Estate (ATE) boundaries; the long term leasing of land within ATE boundaries; the purchasing of necessary Commoners Rights; and the use of other facilities such as safety buoys and electric/water cables.

Military Equipment Sales

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the occasions on which armed forces personnel have attended as part of their duties promotional events for UK military equipment sales in each year since 2000–01.

Adam Ingram: Military personnel attend a wide range of promotional events, as required as part of their duties. Such events may include UK and overseas defence exhibitions as well as equipment demonstrations and displays. Information concerning the attendance of military personnel at promotional events is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Op-telic Tender

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many garments have been delivered for the Op-telic Tender DC2 ESL/3122.

Adam Ingram: Deliveries under this contract are due to be completed by January 2005 and the supplier has completed the first batch of 2,500 garments. We expect to receive samples of this batch before the first delivery in early November 2004.

Op-telic Tender

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of whether the fabric supplied for the Op-telic tender DC2 ESL/3122 meets the specification.

Adam Ingram: The supplier for this contract has an obligation to deliver items which meet our specification. The Ministry of Defence quality surveillance methods include sample testing to ensure fabric is compliant. There are no concerns about the fabric used. Samples provided to date have met our specification.

RAF Kinloss

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  why the hon. Member for Moray was not informed of the impending announcement concerning the airfield review and RAF Kinloss prior to the release of a press statement;
	(2)  which media were informed, and when, about an impending announcement concerning the airfield review and RAF Kinloss prior to the letter sent to the honourable Member for Moray on 12 October.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Airfield Review was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 348. I sent letters to a number of hon. Members early on 12 October, including the hon. Member for Moray, detailing how we would be conducting the review with regard to the airfields in their constituencies. Hon. Members were therefore notified before any statement to the press, the exception being the hon. Member for Moray whose published contact details were incorrect. That led to him being notified later than other hon. Members.

Sea Cadet Corps

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of adult volunteers to the Sea Cadet Corps.

Ivor Caplin: Statistics for the Sea Cadet Corps are compiled once a year. As at 31 March 2004 there were 4,307 adult volunteers to the Sea Cadet Corps, comprising uniformed and non-uniformed instructors and chaplains, all of whom are civilians.

Warships

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to send HMS Victorious to a location other than Plymouth for its refit; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There are no plans to refit HMS Victorious at a location other than Plymouth. It is our policy to refit warships in the United Kingdom and Devonport Dockyard has the only facilities capable of refitting and refuelling RN nuclear-powered submarines.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Lottery Grants

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the policy of the National Lottery towards making grants conditional upon the procurement of only certified timber.

Estelle Morris: Lottery distributors are, and are intended to be, independent of Government, but they are obliged to take into account policy directions from the Secretary of State. These directions set out the framework for the wider aims of Lottery funding, and include the need for the distributing bodies to further the objectives of sustainable development when awarding Lottery grants. The Lottery distributing bodies are strongly committed to sustainable development, including the procurement of timber from legal and sustainable sources.

Renaissance in the Regions

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to support the Renaissance in the Regions programme in Yorkshire.

Estelle Morris: The 2004 Spending Review White Paper sets out the intention of the Department to extend Renaissance in the Regions to all nine regional hubs. We face a number of difficult choices and competing priorities in allocating funding from the spending review but will do all we can to take the Renaissance initiative forward.

Renaissance in the Regions

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding from the Renaissance in the Regions programme (a) has been allocated and (b) will be allocated to Yorkshire.

Estelle Morris: The total allocations to the Yorkshire Regional Museum Hub under Spending Review 2002 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2003–04 210,000 
			 2004–05 676,000 
			 2005–06 1,180,000 
		
	
	Allocations following the 2004 Spending Review will be made as soon as possible.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

False Alarm Emergency Calls

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) genuine and (b) malicious false alarm fire emergency calls were received in Buckinghamshire in each year since 2001.

Nick Raynsford: The number of fire false alarm calls attended by the Buckinghamshire fire and rescue service is as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			  (a) Genuine (b) Malicious 
			  Good Intent Due to Apparatus  
			 2001 1,611 2,435 459 
			 2002 1,637 2,304 418 
			 2003 (Provisional) 1,193 2,417 357 
		
	
	Note:
	2002 and 2003 figures include estimates for fire false alarms not recorded during periods of industrial action.

Fire-related Deaths (Buckinghamshire)

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire-related deaths in dwellings in Buckinghamshire there were in each year since 2001.

Nick Raynsford: The number of deaths reported in dwelling fires attended by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service are as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			  Number 
			 2001 3 
			 2002 6 
			 2003 (1)5 
		
	
	(1) Provisional figure.

High Hedges

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made on reduction of the neighbour nuisance caused by high hedges; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The public consultation on implementing Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, which gives local authorities the powers to deal with complaints about high hedges closed on 30 June. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is now finalising Regulations and guidance and expects the system to be fully operational around the end of 2004.

Parks

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if his Department will establish a programme to improve local parklands.

Phil Hope: The Government have already established programmes for improving local parks and green spaces. These are set out in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's reports "Living Places—Cleaner, Safer, Greener" (ODPM 2002), and "Sustainable communities: building for the future" (ODPM 2003). The initiatives they contain are currently being implemented through the cross-government "Cleaner, Safer, Greener Communities" programme.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Education Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding streams are available to local education authority schools (a) directly from government and (b) through local education authorities, which are not available to city technology colleges and city academies.

David Miliband: Schools maintained by local education authorities and city technology colleges and city academies are funded on similar terms on a like for like basis. However, the Standards Fund is used as a funding stream for schools maintained by local education authorities but not for schools of these types. However, the overall capital and revenue funding for city technology colleges and academies takes account of what comparable LEA schools would receive (including their Standards Fund allocations).

Education Finance

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the UK's national income has been spent on education in each year since 1997 for which figures are available.

Charles Clarke: The percentage of the UK's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spent on education since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			  
		
		
			  Percentage 
			 1997–98 4.5 
			 1998–99 4.5 
			 1999–2000 4.4 
			 2000–01 4.6 
			 2001–02 5.0 
			 2002–03 5.1 
			 2003–04 5.3 
			 2004–05 5.4 
			 2005–06 5.5 
			 2006–07 5.5 
			 2007–08 5.6 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures for 2003–04 are based on estimated outturn and those for 2004–05 onwards are based on expenditure plans announced in the 2004 Budget Report.

Endometriosis

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that information about endometriosis is routinely included in personal, social and health education in secondary schools.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 13 October 2004
	In Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) lessons pupils are taught about sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS, how to seek professional advice on health related issues confidently, and ways of finding sources of help and information. However, we have no plans to include endometriosis routinely in PSHE lessons in secondary schools, although the condition might be raised in class discussions.
	In statutory Science lessons, at Key Stage 3 (ages 11–14) pupils are taught about the human reproductive system and the menstrual cycle. At Key Stage 4 (ages 14–16) pupils learn about ways in which hormonal control occurs, including the effects of sex hormones. This would include conditions such as endometriosis which can affect fertility and the reproductive system in general.

Information and Communication Technology

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what the amount is (a) in total and (b) per pupil spent on information and communication technology in maintained schools since 2001–02, broken down by local education authority in England;
	(2)  what the amount is (a) in total and (b) per pupil spent on information and communication technology in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in England since 2001–02.

David Miliband: The information requested is not available centrally. Figures for England, derived from a sample of schools, are shown in the table. Figures at sub-national level are not available as the sample was not large enough to provide reliable estimates.
	The latest information on total ICT expenditure and expenditure per pupil in maintained schools was published in Statistical Bulletin 'Survey of Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2003', which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway.
	For 2003–04, provisional estimates on ICT expenditure per school were published in a Statistical First Release (27/2004) on 29 July, a copy of which is also available on the Department's website. For the purposes of completeness, these figures are also shown in the table.
	
		Expenditure on information and communications technology in maintained primary, secondary and special schools, England—as at 31 March (financial year end)
		
			  2001 2002 12003 2004 
		
		
			 Primary 
			 Total expenditure (£ million) 186 231 201 n/a 
			 Average expenditure per pupil (£) 2 42 59 56 n/a 
			 Average expenditure per school (£) 10,300 12,900 11,300 14,800 
			  
			 Secondary 
			 Total expenditure (£ million) 210 260 223 n/a 
			 Average expenditure per pupil (£) 2 66 81 69 n/a 
			 Average expenditure per school (£) 60,300 75,300 65,100 88,600 
			  
			 Special 
			 Total expenditure (£ million) 15 17 15 n/a 
			 Average expenditure per pupil (£) 2 166 333 259 n/a 
			 Average expenditure per school (£) 13,300 15,100 13,600 18,900 
		
	
	n/a = Data is not currently available.
	(2) The average expenditure for schools in 2003 may not be comparable to other figures in the time series due to a change in the guidance notes for the survey.
	(3) Headcount of pupils.

Resources for Children and Learners

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 September 2004, Official Report, columns 153–54WS, on Resources for Children and Learners what proportion of the extra funding announced for the next spending review period has been allocated to (a) early years, (b) primary schools, (c) secondary schools, (d) school sixth forms, (e) further education and (f) higher education.

Charles Clarke: The written statement I gave to the House on 16 September gave high level allocations across my Department's responsibilities. There are still some further considerations required at individual programme level before all allocations are finalised. Once these considerations are concluded we will present the detailed allocations to Parliament in the Departmental Annual Report.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

BSE

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in which other countries cases of BSE have been verified; and how many cases were reported (a) in the EU and (b) in the USA between 2000 and 2004.

Ben Bradshaw: The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) website shows that the following countries have verified cases of BSE which have been reported:
	Austria
	Belgium
	Canada
	Czech Republic
	Denmark
	Finland
	France
	Germany
	Greece
	Ireland
	Israel
	Italy
	Japan
	Liechtenstein
	Luxembourg
	Netherlands
	Poland
	Portugal
	Slovakia
	Slovenia
	Spain
	Switzerland
	United Kingdom
	(a) The number of cases of BSE reported in the EU between 2000 and 2004 was 8,319 (the data for 2004 is available only up to July for a few countries); (b) while one case of BSE was diagnosed in the USA in 2003 it was confirmed as having been imported from Canada.
	BSE statistics worldwide can be found on the OIE website address at: http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en esbmonde.htm

Executive Agencies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the salaries of the Chief Executive of each agency which falls under her Department.

Alun Michael: Salaries of Defra's agency Chief Executives are published in each agency's annual report and accounts, which are presented to Parliament each year and placed in the Library of the House.

Farm Incomes (Buckingham)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on recent trends in farm incomes in the Buckingham constituency.

Alun Michael: Data on farm incomes at constituency level are not available at constituency level. Figures for the Government Office Region for the South East (including London) are shown in the table. Information on farm incomes for 2003–04 will be published in early December.
	
		Net farm incomes for farms greater than eight ESU insouth-east GOR (incl. London)
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1996–97 34,262 
			 1997–98 13,516 
			 1998–99 5,005 
			 1999–2000 3,718 
			 2000–01 3,711 
			 2007–02 5,306 
			 2002–03 8,595 
		
	
	Source:
	Farm Business Survey

Farm Subsidies

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the start date is for single farm payments.

Alun Michael: The Single Payment Scheme will start on 1 January 2005. The European Regulations require 2005 payments to be made between 1 December 2005 and 30 June 2006. Our objective is to make payments as promptly as possible within that period.

Fisheries

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future management of the (a) six and (b) 12-mile fishing zones around the UK coast; and whether regulation will impact upon UK and non-UK vessels uniformly.

Ben Bradshaw: Under the CFP only UK vessels can fish within six miles of our coast and only vessels with historic rights can fish in the six to 12 mile zone. The reformed CFP enables member states to take conservation measures applying to all vessels. We are currently considering the future of inshore fisheries management as part of the response to the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit Report "Net Benefits: A Sustainable and Profitable Future to UK Fishing".

Foot and Mouth

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether footage of the video taken by Northumberland Trading Standards on 23 February 2001 of the conditions on Burnside Farm was submitted to the Anderson Lessons Learned Inquiry.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has no record of the video, taken by an official of the Northumberland Trading Standards Department, of the conditions at Burnside Farm, run by Mr. Bobby Waugh, being submitted to the Anderson Lessons Learned Inquiry. The video was shown at Mr. Waugh's trial for breach of his waste food feeding licence which was held in May 2002.
	The Anderson Inquiry was given and published a full investigation of the causes of the outbreaks of foot and mouth in 2001 and also saw records of the State Veterinary Service visits to the farm. The video contains no new information.

Information and Communication Technology

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many information and communication technology specialists are in full-time employment in the Department.

Alun Michael: The situation in Defra has changed recently and it may assist if I explain the background. A review of the Better Quality Services Programme for Defra IT was undertaken in 2001. This review concluded that Defra IT services should be outsourced, with some functions and strategic control remaining in Defra. IBM has been selected to run IT Services for Defra and the service commenced on 1 October 2004. Staff undertaking roles that were within the scope of the outsource transferred to IBM under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981.
	Ten full-time ICT specialists remain with the Department in the Intelligent Customer Function while 255 full-time ICT specialists were categorised as being in scope for outsourcing and are now employed by IBM.

Over-30 Month Cattle Scheme

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the saving would be of moving the over-30 month scheme to (a) over 36 months and (b) over 48 months.

Alun Michael: The approximate savings that would have been made from the year commencing 1 July 2003 of moving the over-30 month scheme to (a) over 36 months and (b) over 48 months are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Costs(4) (a) Over 36 months (b) Over 48 months 
		
		
			 Producer compensation   payments 10.516 32.207 
			 Carcase disposal 6.044 18.51 
			 Total 16.56 50.717 
		
	
	(4) Based on current unit costs

Pet Animals Protection Convention

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to sign the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government plans to review the UK's position on signing the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Pet Animals once the Animal Welfare Bill is enacted.

Registered Holdings

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many registered holdings there are for European subsidy purposes; how many there were in 1994; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The number of holdings that registered/submitted applications for European subsidy purposes in 2004 and 1994, under the Integrated Administration and Control System are set out in the following table.
	The figures for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland were provided by their respective devolved assemblies.
	
		
			  1994 2004 
		
		
			 England 81,224 71,978 
			 Wales 20,919 16,814 
			 Scotland 25,542 19,675 
			 Northern Ireland 28,748 24,944

Rural Payments Agency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors underlay the decision to set the salary for the Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency at its present level.

Alun Michael: The Rural Payments Agency brought together functions from the former Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's regional centres and the former Intervention Board. The purpose was to streamline, modernise and reduce the costs of administering Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes, while delivering a high-quality service to farmers and traders. This new agency required a leader with a successful track record of delivering radical change in a substantial delivery organisation and it demanded someone who could sustain a high level of performance. The Chief Executive post was therefore advertised in 2000 as an Open Competition. Since then there has been the additional challenge of delivering successful implementation of CAP reform. The external market and the high expectations of the post holder were factors in determining the salary. The salaries of chief executives are reported to Parliament in the usual way.

Sea Bass

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will liaise with other Departments to ensure that their catering policies source sea bass from hand line fisheries.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra is compiling a catering services procurement toolkit that will include guidance on the relevance of fish sources to the Government's sustainable development objectives for food. This guidance will be published on Defra's website and central Departments will be notified directly.
	The current draft does not refer to individual species of fish and nor does it suggest preferred catch methods but it does suggest that the method of catch should be labelled so that paying customers can make an informed choice when choosing dishes of food.
	Defra supports the sourcing of sea bass from responsibly managed fisheries. Hand lining is a relatively low impact method of fishing and so can help fisheries to remain sustainable. Advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas on sea bass has been that the level of exploitation of the stock appeared to be sustainable. New advice is due shortly which we will be considering carefully to ensure that this stock remains sustainably exploited. There are also currently no restrictions at a UK or community level on the method of fishing that can be used to target bass.
	In these circumstances I consider it would be inappropriate to advise Departments to encourage their caterers to restrict the source of bass they purchase to hand line fisheries only.

Sugar

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with sugar beet farmers from the Vale of York on the reform of the EU Sugar regime.

Alun Michael: Ministers and officials frequently meet farming organisations, including the National Farmers Union, to discuss a range of topical subjects including sugar reform. The current chairman of the NFU Sugar Board is a beet farmer from the Vale of York.

Sugar

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the future of sugar beet farming in (a) the Vale of York and (b) England.

Alun Michael: The Government have consistently pressed for early and radical reform of the EU sugar regime, which is now seriously out of line with the decoupled, market-based approach already adopted for virtually all of the rest of the Common Agricultural Policy. The current regime also gives rise to major distortions in international trade, some of which are under active challenge in the WTO.
	Negotiations are beginning in Brussels on a European Commission approach to reform which would mark a step change in the operation of the regime, bringing prices significantly closer to world levels and moving towards a more liberalised and competitive system based on comparative advantage rather than historic production and national self-sufficiency. We have welcomed this as an important step on the right direction.
	We are in close touch with British Sugar, the National Farmers Union and a wide range of interests, both in the UK and elsewhere, who will be affected. The consultation exercise which we carried out on the Commission's original options paper last year will be followed by a further consultation once formal legislative proposals are tabled. We will also be providing Parliament with a full Regulatory Impact Assessment as soon as the detail is clearer. In addition we will shortly be publishing independent research on the economic, social and environmental implications in the UK of sugar reform. This should help to make clearer the likely impacts on sugar beet farming in the United Kingdom, as well as putting the reform into the wider context of decoupled support for agriculture.

Supermarkets Code of Practice

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions on the Supermarkets Code of Practice she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, (b) farming organisations, (c) supermarkets, (d) retailer representatives and (e) other relevant bodies.

Alun Michael: Responsibility for the Code of Practice rests with the Office of Fair Trading. However, as Defra is the sponsor Department for the farming and food industries, the subject of the Code will have arisen in the course of discussions and correspondence between Defra and representatives of various bodies, including farming and retail organisations. We have also discussed the Code with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 21 July from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Farag Elkailani.

David Blunkett: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 15 September 2004.

Identity Cards

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) nature and (b) values are of his Department's consultancy contracts for, and in relation to, the identity card scheme.

Des Browne: There is one current Home Office consultancy contract in relation to the identity card scheme. PA Consulting Group were engaged in May 2004 as the Home Office's development partner providing resources in support of programme development.

Marriage (Denmark)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission research into the effects of legislation in Denmark which require that applicants and sponsors, for the purpose of marriage, from outside the EU must be aged over 24 years.

Des Browne: No. We are aware of the Danish requirement and we will be looking at reports on the effectiveness of this measure as a means of preventing marriage abuse. We are also keeping our own marriage provisions—including the extension of the probationary period, and the requirement for foreign nationals to give notice of their marriage at certain designated register offices under review and will make any changes to the Rules that we consider necessary.

TRANSPORT

Galileo Satellite

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the military implications for Galileo arising from the EU White Paper, "New Frontier for an Expanding Union" published in June;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the military implications for Galileo arising from the meeting of the Council of the European Union's politico-military group on 8 September.

David Jamieson: The Galileo satellite navigation system is being developed by the European Union and the European Space Agency as a civil project for transport and other non-military applications. It has been stated by successive Transport Councils that Galileo is a civil programme under civil control. A Joint Action of the Council has been agreed which enables referral of aspects of the Galileo programme that relate to the security of the European Union or its member states to an appropriate formulation of Council, i.e. Pillar II, where unanimity applies.

Driving Licences

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with European Union institutions about the standardisation of driving licences across the EU.

David Jamieson: The European Commission published a proposal for a Third Directive on driving licensing on 5 December 2003. The Directive aims to promote free movement of citizens, improve road safety and increase the security of the driving licence system. My officials consulted fully and widely on these proposals during spring 2004. After detailed discussions in the Council Working Group, at which the European Commission was present, on 7 October the Transport Council reached a general approach on the Directive, which meets most of the Government's key objectives. The European Parliament is expected to complete its First Reading of the proposal in January 2005. I shall be writing shortly to the Chairmen of the Lords and Commons European Scrutiny Committees to bring them up to date on progress.

Pedestrian Walkways

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers are vested in (a) local authorities and (b) the police to prevent motorised vehicles from blocking pedestrian walkways.

Charlotte Atkins: Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 makes it an offence to obstruct a highway without lawful authority. The pedestrian footway is part of a highway. The police may issue a fixed penalty notice for such obstruction. However, in London, by virtue of section 8 of the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003, authorised officers of borough councils and Transport for London are also empowered to issue a fixed penalty notice for the offence of obstruction under section 137 of the 1980 Act.
	Section 15 of the Greater London (General Powers) Act 1974 makes it an offence to park a vehicle on footways and grass verges in London. This offence has been decriminalised under section 76 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 and, unless parking on the pavement has been specifically allowed at a particular location, London borough council parking attendants may issue a penalty charge notice where a vehicle is found parked on a pedestrian footway.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

BT

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2004, Official Report, column 1150W, on BT, if she will make a statement on the progress of the review of the rating system; whether she has received its initial findings; and when she expects the report to be published.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The independent rates review recommended by the Broadband Stakeholders Group (BSG) is currently at draft stage. The first draft was produced in the summer; a final draft is due at the end of October and it is expected that it will be presented to the Broadband Stakeholders Group in November.

Combined Heat and Power

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors governed the date of publication on the departmental website of the report by Cambridge Econometrics consultants on "Modelling Good Quality Combined Heat and Power Capacity To 2010: Revised Projections".

Mike O'Brien: Cambridge Econometrics' report titled "Modelling Good Quality Combined Heat and Power Capacity to 2010: Revised Projections" was completed on 6 November 2003 and made available on DTI's website on 12 November 2003.

Entrepreneurship Education

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Department for Education and Skills to promote education in entrepreneurship in schools and colleges.

Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills during which they discuss a wide range of issues, including enterprise education and work-related learning, which is now a statutory requirement in English secondary schools.
	In this context our two Departments have been working closely to ensure that all young people are provided with a wide range of high quality, relevant, structured experiences of work that will develop enterprise capability, innovation, creativity, risk management and risk-taking. This is necessary to prepare young people for the world of work and to equip them with the enterprise and employability skills to meet employer and workplace demands as well as the ability to start and successfully run their own businesses.
	That is why she welcomed the recommendations made by Sir Howard Davies in his Review of the Economy and Enterprise Education and the commitment made in the 2002 Budget to ensure that from 2005 all year 10 pupils will have the opportunity to experience five days enterprise learning, helping to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes for enterprise capability, financial capability and economic and business understanding. The commitment also provides funding for Enterprise advisers to work with 1,000 secondary schools in deprived areas in order to give extra support to the enterprise education agenda.
	Both DTI and DfES along with other government departments are supporting the UK's first Enterprise Week—Make Your Mark Campaign on 15–21 November 2004. It aims to inspire people in their teens and twenties to be enterprising, and to engage those who influence young people or provide services for them in a discussion about the importance of enterprise. Enterprise Week is co-ordinated by Enterprise Insight, which was founded by the UK's main business organisations working in partnership with leading enterprise development organisations.

Post Office

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) representations she has received and (b) consultation has taken place with sub-post masters concerning the speed of the New Horizon computer system.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 13 October 2004
	None. Issues relating to the post office network computer system are operational matters for the company.

Post Office

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices have closed in Pembrokeshire since May 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I am advised by Post Office Ltd. that data on post office closures by county or constituency is not available in the form requested, as the company does not require this data for operational purposes. However it has produced quarterly statistics on post office closures by Government region/country since March 2000 and the net closure figures for Wales are:
	
		
			 Year to end March Number 
		
		
			 2001 68 
			 2002 26 
			 2003 18 
			 2004 73 
			 2005 (first quarter only) 45

Wind Energy

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 14 September 2004, Official Report, column 1541W, on wind energy, what assessment she has made of the (a) impartiality and (b) objectivity of the study commissioned by the British Wind Energy Association.

Mike O'Brien: None. Though similar studies, including the one by S.W. White and G.L. Kulcinski at the University of Wisconsin, and detailed within the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, 4th Report of Session 2003–2004, "Renewable Energy: Practicalities", show shorter payback periods for wind farms.

Women and Work Commission

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her written statement of 11 October 2004, Official Report, columns 6–8WS, on the Women and Work Commission, what the proposed (a) resource budget and (b) departmental staff numbers to support the Women and Work Commission are; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Women and Work Commission is an ad hoc advisory body of unpaid Commissioners who will report within a year. Support for the Commission will come from existing DTI/Women and Equality Unit resources.
	(a) The projected resource budget is £300,000 of which £150,000 is projected administration costs and 150,000 is programme budget.
	(b) The WWC Secretariat consists of three dedicated full time equivalent posts.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits (East Lothian)

Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average minimum income guarantee payment is to pensioners in East Lothian constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: The minimum income guarantee was replaced by pension credit from 6 October 2003. The average pension credit award in East Lothian at 31 August 2004 was £36.54.

Benefits (East Lothian)

Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners were in receipt of minimum income guarantee in East Lothian constituency at the last date on which it was paid.

Malcolm Wicks: As at 3 October 2003, there were 2,360 minimum income guarantee claimants in East Lothian parliamentary constituency. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee as at 6 October 2003.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

Benefits (East Lothian)

Anne Picking: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of pension credit in East Lothian constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the number of people likely to be eligible for Pension Credit is not available at constituency level. However, we estimate that approximately 350,000 households in Scotland, corresponding to approximately 450,000 individuals (rounded to the nearest 50,000), are likely to be eligible for pension credit in 2004–05. Information on the number of pension credit recipients in Scotland and East Lothian is given in the table.
	
		Pension credit recipients, 31 August 2004
		
			  Households Individuals 
		
		
			 Scotland 271,900 325,355 
			 East Lothian 3,635 4,400 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest five
	2. Individual recipients include a small number of partners under age 60

Occupational Pension Schemes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters he has sent to occupational pension schemes in wind-up, in connection with his Financial Assistance Scheme, asking them to supply scheme data by 12 November; and if he will estimate the average cost to each scheme of providing the information requested.

Malcolm Wicks: Letters were sent to scheme trustees, administrators and actuaries through a number of professional bodies on behalf of the Department. The professional bodies who agreed to send these letters included the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority; the Association of Corporate Trustees; the Faculty and the Institute of Actuaries and the National Association of Pension Funds. They were advised to circulate the letter as widely as possible and it is also available on the Department's website.
	The cost of providing the information requested will depend on the quality and availability of individual scheme records. The impact, if any, on scheme funds in providing this information, will depend on the extent to which those involved in administering the schemes are able to absorb any costs incurred rather than passing them on to scheme funds. The Government are still seeking industry contributions to the Financial Assistance Scheme and this is an opportunity for members of the pensions industry to provide one. We encouraged those involved to keep costs to a minimum.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many over-75s are claiming the guarantee credit element of the pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: As at August 2004, the number of customers aged 75 and over claiming the guarantee credit element of pension credit was 1,081,430.

Pension Credit

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what review of the application process for receipt of the pension credit has been undertaken since the scheme was introduced.

Malcolm Wicks: The application process for pension credit has been designed to be straightforward for pensioners and their family and friends, who may apply on their behalf. The pension credit application line (freephone 0800 99 1234), which is the main method of applying, is working well and at the end of August had taken around 4.48 million calls since it became operational on 7 April 2003. The Pension Service is able to offer alternative ways of applying to suit individual circumstances. Independent research, a summary of which was placed in the Library in January, found high levels of customer satisfaction with the application line and with the application process overall. We have made minor improvements to the application process in the light of experience and will continue to do so, although there are no current plans for a fundamental review.

TREASURY

Gift Aid

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to announce the outcome of the consultation on his Department's plans to amend the Gift Aid rules on day memberships.

John Healey: Representatives of heritage and conservation charities have been involved in discussions about possible changes to the Gift Aid rules. We are considering carefully the points they and others have raised, and we will consider changes as part of the normal Budget process.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on using fiscal measures to encourage reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

John Healey: The Government believe that well-designed economic instruments, alongside other policies, can play an important role in reducing CO 2 emissions. A number of measures have been introduced to help achieve this, including the Climate Change Levy, Company Car Tax reform and Enhanced Capital Allowances for energy-saving equipment. The Government will continue to explore options for using cost-effective economic instruments, including fiscal measures, to reduce CO 2 emissions, taking account of all social, economic and environmental objectives.

Science

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on Government expenditure on science.

John Healey: The Government regularly receives representation on science spending.
	Most recently, in developing the "Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004–2014", published in July, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department for Education and Skills and HM Treasury jointly undertook a wide-ranging consultation exercise, and received over 200 replies from individuals and organisations in academia, business, the charity sector, and from the regional and devolved Administrations.

National Insurance Fund

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the current surplus in the National Insurance Fund.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government Actuary estimates that the surplus in the National Insurance Fund will be £29.6 billion for 2004–05.

Red Diesel

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that private pleasure craft will be able to use red diesel after 31 December 2006.

John Healey: Use of red diesel, which has an effective duty rate of 4.42 pence per litre, is permitted in private pleasure craft in the UK under a derogation from the European Energy Products Directive. This derogation is due to expire at the end of 2006 and we will be discussing it with other member states closer to that date, in the light of the views of stakeholders, including boat owners.

International Currency Transaction Tax

Harry Barnes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with the Belgian Finance Minister about Belgium's support for an international currency transaction tax.

Stephen Timms: The Chancellor recently met with a range of finance Ministers, including the Belgian Finance Minister, at the Annual Meetings at which there was a discussion regarding an international currency transaction tax. The Government are open to exploring the full range of options for financing for development, and welcomes the recent reports of the French-Brazilian-Spanish-Chilean-UN and Landau working groups. The UK Government will continue to explore international taxes as potential long-term sources of development finance, but in the short-term the IFF remains the only workable proposal on the table to generate the resources urgently needed to help meet the MDGs.

Third World Poverty

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on UK investment in tackling poverty in developing countries.

Stephen Timms: The Government are making a considerable and increasing investment in tackling poverty in developing countries. As announced in the 2004 Spending Review, the budget of the Department for International Development (DFID) will grow by an average of 9.2 per cent. a year in real terms over the three years of the Spending Review period, to more than £5.3 billion a year by 2007–08. Total UK official development assistance will reach nearly £6.5 billion a year by 2007–08. This is equal to 0.47 per cent. of Gross National Income (GNI) and represents a real terms increase in UK ODA of 140 per cent. since 1997.

Millennium Development Goals 2015

Jim Knight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his Department's involvement in progress towards the 2015 Millennium Development Goals.

Stephen Timms: HM Treasury works very closely with the Department for International Development towards our shared objective of making progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
	We share a Public Service Agreement Target on progress for poor countries through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative and on ensuring that our international partners work effectively towards meeting the MDGs.
	We have massively increased aid since 1997 towards meeting the MDGs. Through Spending Review 2004, total UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) will reach nearly £6.5 billion a year by 2007–08, which represents a 73 per cent. real times increase in total UK ODA since 2001, and a 140 per cent. real terms increase since 1997.
	We have been at the forefront of calls for additional debt relief, including the Chancellor's recent announcement that the UK will provide our share of up to 100 per cent. multilateral debt relief for the world's poorest countries.
	And because we know that on current trends we will not meet the MDGs in 2015, we are calling for an International Finance Facility that would provide the additional funding needed immediately to make progress towards the MDGs.

Oil Price

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the macro-economic implications of recent oil price fluctuations on the UK economy.

John Healey: The Government will publish updated forecasts for the UK and world economies in Pre-Budget Report 2004 as usual, taking into account all relevant factors and developments, including oil prices.

Tax/Pension Credits

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues regarding the (a) tax credit and (b) pension credit systems.

Dawn Primarolo: Tax credits have been hugely successful in their prime aims of tackling child poverty and making work pay.

Tax/Pension Credits

John Thurso: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new claims for tax credits have been received but not yet processed, broken down by region.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible to break down the number of claims for new tax credits that have been received but not yet processed by region. Over 150,000 new claims were received during September.

Tax/Pension Credits

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much on average tax credits add to the income of a family with two children on a wage of (a) £10,000 and (b) £15,000 a year.

Dawn Primarolo: The figures requested are in the following table.
	
		
			£ 
			 Family wage Child tax credit Working tax credit (not including childcare element) 1 Total 
		
		
			 10,000 3,803.30 1,935.35 5,738.65 
			 15,000 3,803.30 85.35 3,888.65 
		
	
	(5) This Working Tax Credit award assumes that the families qualify for the premium available for working at least 30 hours a week.
	These families may also qualify for up to £7,300 a year through the Childcare element of Working Tax Credit, which covers up to 70 per cent. of eligible childcare costs (subject to cost limits of £200 a week for families with two or more children).

Tax/Pension Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people in Yeovil constituency were (a) overpaid and (b) underpaid tax credits in (i) 2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05 to date; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the number of overpayments of (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03, (iii) 2003–04 and (iv) 2004–05 to date; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what his estimate is of the tax credit (a) underpayments and (b) overpayments for each year from 2001–02 to 2004–05; and what proportion of underpayments for (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04 have now been paid in full to those entitled;
	(4)  what his latest estimate is of the total costs of (a) overpayments and (b) underpayments of tax credits for each year from 2001–02 to 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Andrew Turner) on 11 October 2004, Official Report, columns 81–82W.

Tax/Pension Credits

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients of working tax credit have been refunded for underpayments in the last 12 months and subsequently told that the underpayment recalculations were wrong.

Dawn Primarolo: 6.1 million families are benefiting from one or both of the Child and Working Tax Credits. The treatment of overpayments arising from official error is described on page 8 of Code of Practice 26 "What happens if we have paid you too much tax credit?". Figures for the number of Working Tax Credit recipients affected are not available.

Capital Gains Tax

Karen Buck: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual revenue from capital gains tax if the exemption of owner occupied housing were removed.

Stephen Timms: The latest estimated costs of exempting gains arising on a disposal of a main or only residence were given in Chapter A of Budget 2004.
	These costs are not the same as the yield from abolition of the relief, as consequential effects on the housing market would substantially reduce the yield. Reliable estimates of the yield from imposing capital gains tax at present rates on the disposal by individuals of their only or main residences are available only at disproportionate cost.

Employment (Glasgow)

David Marshall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total number of jobs located in the City of Glasgow; and what percentage of the total number of jobs in Scotland this figure represents.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Marshall, dated 14 October 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about jobs located in the City of Glasgow. (190996)
	In 2002, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 385,000 employee jobs located in the unitary authority of the City of Glasgow. This represented 17 per cent. of all employee jobs in Scotland.

Incapacity Benefit

Roger Berry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Inland Revenue information on incapacity benefit indicates to recipients that if their benefit dates from before 12 April 1995 the payments are free of income tax.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue's leaflet IR144 "Income Tax and Incapacity Benefit" printed in May 2002 makes clear that a claimant's local Benefit Office, which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions, will advise if Incapacity Benefit is taxable or not. The SATax Return Guide refers to the tax treatment of Incapacity Benefit for those whose claim is for a period before 13 April 1995. It goes on to say that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will provide a form showing whether the benefit is taxable.

International Finance Facility

Nick Palmer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made with the International Finance Facility.

Paul Boateng: Good progress has been made recently with the International Finance Facility. The World Bank's final paper on Aid Effectiveness and Financing Modalities found that the IFF was technically feasible and noted that the IFF was the most advanced proposal to frontline aid. Communiques from the meetings welcomed the Bank and Fund analysis of options to increase aid flows, such as the IFF, and looked forward to a further report on options to take these forward. Furthermore, all Nordic countries supported the IFF's potential role in providing additional finance for development. The IFF will be central to the UK Presidencies of the G7 and EU in 2005.

International Finance Facility

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral answer from the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 17 June 2004, Official Report, column 895, on the International Finance Facility, if he will make a statement on the September reports by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund regarding the UK's proposal for the international finance facility.

Stephen Timms: Good progress was made on the International Finance Facility (IFF) at the Annual Meetings this year. The World Bank's final paper on Aid Effectiveness and Financing Modalities found that the IFF was technically feasible and noted that the IFF was the most advanced proposal to frontload aid. Communiqués from the meetings welcomed the Bank and Fund analysis of options to increase aid flows, using such mechanisms as the IFF, and looked forward to a further report on options to take these forward. The UK Government will be taking forward the proposal in 2005 when the IFF will be central to the UK Presidencies of the G7 and EU in 2005.

Lorry Road-user Charge Management Authority

Gary Streeter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the proposed functions of the Lorry Road-User Charge Management Authority are;
	(2)  what the proposed total costs are for setting up the Lorry Road-User Charge Management Authority in (a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06, (c) 2006–07 and (d) 2007–08.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 12 October 2004, Official Report, column 243W. HM Customs and Excise's plans for the Lorry Road-User Charge (LRUC) include the setting up of an LRUC Management Authority (MA).
	The Government set out the proposed functions of the MA in "Modernising the taxation of the haulage industry: lorry road-user charge—Progress report 3" in March 2004, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Since then Customs have been doing more work on the MA's functions, although final decisions about its scope and the timetable for the transition from a procurement programme to a Management Authority have yet to be taken.

Pensioners

Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners live in the South West Bedfordshire constituency.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Mr. Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Selous, dated 14 October 2004
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many pensioners live in the South West Bedfordshire constituency. (191010),
	The latest available data for constituencies can be found in reports from the 2001 population census.
	Figures from the Census 2001—Census Area Statistics for parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales Indicate that on census day (29th April 2001) there were 15,401 people of pensionable age, (5,645 males aged 65 and over , and 9,756 females aged 60 and over), resident in the South West Bedfqrdshire constituency.
	The Census 2001—Census Area Statistics for Parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales CD was released on the 16th September 2004 and is now available in the House of Commons Library.

HEALTH

Cardiac Care

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about proposed changes to the provision of cardiac rehabilitation services in south-west Hampshire.

Rosie Winterton: The configuration of local health services, including the provision of cardiac rehabilitation services, is a matter for the local national health service, working in partnership with its stakeholders and the local community. It is for NHS organisations to plan and develop services based on their specific local knowledge and expertise.

Departmental Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which services within his Department will be (a) affected by and (b) subject to job losses consequent on the cuts in the civil service announced in the Spending Review.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Boateng), on 16 September 2004, Official Report, column 1659W.

Derriford Hospital

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the treatment provided for Mr. and Mrs. Walker by Derriford hospital in Plymouth on 3 September; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the total cost was to the NHS of transporting Mrs. Paula Walker of Plympton from Derriford hospital, Plymouth to Merthyr Tydfil hospital and then on to Winchester hospital, in September.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not made an assessment of the treatment provided for Mr. and Mrs. Walker at Derriford hospital in Plymouth on 3 September. In line with our policy of shifting the balance of power, responsibility for the provision of local health services rests with local national health service trusts and decisions about the treatment for patients are the responsibility of the clinicians involved in individual cases. The Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust is responsible for services provided at Derriford hospital. The information requested about the cost to the NHS is not collected centrally.

Devon NHS Partnership Trust

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many places for heroin addiction for people aged (a) under 18 and (b) over 18 are provided by the Devon NHS Partnership Trust;
	(2)  what the average waiting time for mental health patients referred by general practitioners to community health teams is in the Devon NHS Partnership Trust area.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Drug Addiction Treatment

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the availability of drug rehabilitation services in Leeds;
	(2)  what changes in waiting times for drug addiction treatment there have been since 1997 in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) Leeds and (c) Leeds West Primary Care Trust area; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: A full range of drug services is provided in Leeds through both statutory and voluntary providers in accordance with the interventions identified in tiers 1–3 of "Models of Care". The city of Leeds does not have a tier 4 residential rehabilitation or in-patient detoxification service. All clients are provided with these services out of the city. The National Treatment Agency (NTA) is working with the local drug action team (DAT) to improve waiting times for these services.
	The information requested on waiting times has been collected since 2002 and is shown in the tables.
	
		Average waiting times for drug treatment Weeks
		
			  Leeds DAT 
			 Essential treatment modalities NTA target December 2002 March 2003 June 2003 September 2003 December 2003 March 2004 June 2004 
		
		
			 In-patient treatment 2 8.0 1.0 1.0 1.5 1.5 — 2.0 
			 Residential Rehabilitation 3 8.0 3.0 2.5 2.0 2.0 — 4.0 
			 Specialist prescribing 3 8.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.4 2.0 1.0 
			 GP 2 2.0 11.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 — 1.0 
			 Day care 3 2.0 2.5 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 
			 Structured counselling 2 1.0 0.7 2.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.8 
		
	
	
		Average waiting times for drug treatment Weeks
		
			  Yorkshire and Humberside 
			 Essential treatment modalities NTA target December 2002 March 2003 June 2003 September 2003 December 2003 March 2004 June 2004 
		
		
			 In-patient treatment 2 4.8 4.0 5.1 3.9 2.6 1.5 1.2 
			 Residential Rehabilitation 3 7.4 3.7 4.0 4.5 6.3 3.3 3.2 
			 Specialist prescribing 3 8.1 5.0 5.3 4.9 4.0 3.4 4.6 
			 GP 2 2.4 3.2 2.4 2.1 1.9 1.5 1.5 
			 Day care 3 2.1 3.6 1.2 1.2 1.0 0.8 1.1 
			 Structured counselling 2 3.3 1.6 2.1 2.1 2.6 2.2 2.2 
		
	
	Source:
	National Treatment Agency.

Free School Fruit

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 September 2004, Official Report, column 1646, on free school fruit, how many children will benefit from the school fruit and vegetable scheme in those parts of the Romsey constituency that do not have a Romsey post code.

Melanie Johnson: Schools in the Romsey constituency will join the school fruit and vegetable scheme in November 2004, when children aged four to six will start receiving a free piece of fruit or vegetable each school day.
	We are currently in the process of ensuring schools participate in the scheme and aggregating the numbers of eligible children in each school. In early November, we will know the precise number of children in the Romsey constituency who are benefiting from the scheme.

Hepatitis C

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comparisons his Department has made of the prevalence of hepatitis C in the UK with that of other EU members states; and what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for differences.

Melanie Johnson: In 1996, the French Reseau National de Santé Publique carried out a project funded by the European Commission entitled European Survey on hepatitis C 1. Individual member states provided estimates of the prevalence of hepatitis C in their countries, which are shown in the table. These estimates were based mainly on data about blood donors or selected groups and were presented as an order of magnitude rather than reliable estimates.
	The survey showed that the prevalence of hepatitis C tended to be lower in northern European countries and higher in southern European countries. The reasons for these differences are not clear.
	1 Nalpas B, Delarocque-Astagneau E, Desenclos J-C. European Survey on hepatitis C December 1996. Project financed by the commission of the European Community: DG V.
	
		Country estimates of the prevalence of hepatitis C antibodies in the general population in the 15 European Economic Community countries, 1996
		
			 Country Estimated prevalence (percentage) 
		
		
			 Austria 0.2–0.8 
			 Belgium 0.87 
			 Denmark 0.1–0.2 
			 Finland 0.1 
			 France 1.2 
			 Germany 0.2–0.8 
			 Greece 1.0 
			 Ireland 0.3–1.0 
			 Italy 3 
			 Luxembourg 0.2–0.8 
			 Netherlands 0.2–0.8 
			 Portugal 0.5–0.9 
			 Spain 0.1–2.5 
			 Sweden 0.5 
			 U.K 0.3–1.0 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures given in italics were not reported in the survey questionnaires returned by member states, and were estimated by the authors of the report using the prevalence estimates from nearest neighbouring state.
	In 1999, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published estimates of global hepatitis C prevalence by country that were derived from published studies and/or data submitted to the WHO. Differences in the population groups studied, methods of data collection and interpretation between countries, and availability of data means that the estimated prevalence shown does not necessarily represent the true prevalence in a country. These estimates are available on the WHO website at http://www.who.int/docstore/wer/pdf/1999/wer7449.pdf.

Hepatitis C

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comparisons his Department has made of the prevalence of hepatitis C in Scotland with that in the remainder of the UK.

Melanie Johnson: The estimated prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C for the general population in Scotland is 0.9 per cent., compared with 0.5 per cent, for England.

Hepatitis C

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much he plans to spend on the hepatitis C awareness campaign in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown, by financial year, in the table.
	
		Department of Health central funding of activities related to raising awareness of hepatitis C
		
			 Financial year Amount (£) 
		
		
			 2004–05 (6)705,000 
			 2005–06 (7)1,500,000 
		
	
	(6) Forecast expenditure.
	(7) Provisional allocation.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the national healthcare standards referred to in Towards Cleaner Hospitals and lower rates of infection will replace the National Infection Control standard for acute NHS trusts.

Melanie Johnson: The standards for better health are a new approach drawing on existing rules and guidance, including the national infection control standard for acute national health service trusts, rather than a direct replacement for the controls assurance standards. The Healthcare Commission will start a consultation in the autumn on how to assess performance against the new standards for better health.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been received from the Government's Chief Medical Officer since the publication of the report "Winning Ways" about the approach which hospital chief executives should adopt in responding to recommendations by infection control teams on the closure of contaminated beds, wards and hospitals.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 13 October 2004
	The Chief Medical Officer has consistently advised that clinical priorities and clinical need should take precedence and guide the actions and decisions of those deciding on the closure of beds, wards and hospitals. Following the publication of "Winning Ways" we would expect the directors of infection prevention and control to advise on these issues to help ensure a consistent approach and for trust boards and chief executives to take account of this advice. The decision to close a ward is a local decision that depends on a local risk assessment.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the rates of MRSA infections among patients in each hospital trust in each of the last five years.

Melanie Johnson: Information by individual named trust is only available from 2001, when, for the first time, mandatory surveillance for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus blood stream infections was introduced. The rates per 1000 bed days are available on the Department's website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/58/93/04085893.pdf.

Hospital-acquired Infections

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions his Department has given to hospital trusts to ensure that the monitoring and detection of MRSA is done on a consistent basis.

Melanie Johnson: The national health service is recommended by the Department to use the report of a working party of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Hospital Infection Society and the Infection Control Nurses Association, published in 1998, as guidance on the monitoring of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection and colonisation. Patients who develop infection will have samples taken as part of their clinical care but trusts will also carry out screening for MRSA infection and colonisation.
	The detection and identification of MRSA in samples is set out in the Bacteriology Standard Operating Procedures (BSOP), issued by the Health Protection Agency. All NHS laboratories accredited by Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) must have in place standard operating procedures that are based on, or give equivalent results to, these BSOP Standards.

New Zealand Goats Milk

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health why New Zealand goats milk is being prevented from reaching EU markets; under what procedures this restriction is being enacted; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Rules on the composition, labelling and promotion of infant formulas and follow-on formulas are laid down in European Directive 91/321/EEC, which is implemented in the United Kingdom through national regulations.
	Under the Directive, permitted sources of protein in infant formulas are cows' milk protein, soya protein isolates and partial protein hydrolysates. Infant formulas based on whole goats' milk protein are not permitted.

Mental Health Act

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients were sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 in each primary care trust (PCT) in London in each year since 1997; and what the average was for PCTs in England and Wales;
	(2)  how many patients were sectioned under sections (a) 2, (b) 3, (c) 4, (d) 135 and (e) 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each primary care trust in London in each year since 1997; and what the average was for primary care trusts in England and Wales in each case.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not collected centrally.

Midwives

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will develop and implement the NHS Community Midwifery Model;
	(2)  what his policy is on offering continuing care from a single midwife for each pregnant woman throughout the course of the pregnancy, labour and post-natal care.

Stephen Ladyman: I have met with the Independent Midwives Association to discuss their national health service community midwifery model. We are giving this careful consideration.
	The maternity standard of the national service framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services was published on 15 September 2004. It asks all NHS maternity care providers and primary care trusts to ensure that all women are offered the support of a named midwife throughout pregnancy and that all women are able to contact a midwife day or night at any stage in pregnancy if they have concerns.
	Implementing the NSF over its 10-year timescale is mandatory, although local agencies will have the flexibility to plan how these standards should be met.

Press Officers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his projection is of the number of press officers employed in his Department for 2004–05.

Rosie Winterton: There are currently 20 press officers in post and a number of vacancies will be filled by the end of 2004–05 to increase this number.

Prostate Cancer

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department is funding to develop a more reliable diagnostic test for prostate cancer.

Melanie Johnson: The Department and other National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) funding partners have jointly established two centres of research excellence, known as the NCRI prostate cancer collaboratives. The Department is meeting half the total cost of £7.4 million over five years.
	The NCRI prostate cancer collaboratives are undertaking several studies relevant to the diagnosis of prostate cancer. An important outcome from the collaborative based at the Institute of Cancer Research is the recent discovery of the overactive E2F3 gene in prostate cancer tumours, which provides the potential for a test to distinguish between aggressive and non-aggressive prostate cancer cells.

Prostate Cancer

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has undertaken into the different frequencies with which men and women access primary care for cancer.

Melanie Johnson: The Department has not funded work specifically on this topic. The Department's policy research programme has however funded five projects costing £0.5 million on cancer referral strategies and primary care. The purpose of the research, which is nearing completion, has been to increase the evidence base to help general practitioners with the referral of patients with possible early symptoms of cancer. It has also looked at the extent of and reasons for delay by patients in presenting to general practice.
	The results will contribute to the development of policy for improving the early detection of cancer in patients with symptoms.

Radiation Risks Committee

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down the costs of the Committee Examining Radiation Risks of Internal Emitters between (a) the costs of the secretariat, (b) the three-day workshop, (c) members' travel and subsistence and (d) other specified costs.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 11 October 2004
	A breakdown by specific budget heading is not available.

Tuberculosis

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to publish the action plan on tuberculosis.

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the National Service Framework for tuberculosis.

Melanie Johnson: Stopping Tuberculosis in England, an action plan from the Chief Medical Officer, was published on 7 October. Copies have been placed in the Library.

PRIME MINISTER

China

James Gray: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he held at 10 Downing Street with President Jiang Zemin during his visit in 1999 on human rights abuses (a) in China and (b) in Tibet.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1568W.

Climate Change

David Drew: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with representatives of the churches on their launch of Operation Noah to draw attention to the threat posed by climate change.

Tony Blair: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings under exemptions 2 and 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister whether he discussed regime change in Iraq in any meeting with President Bush since January 2001.

Tony Blair: I regularly have discussions on a wide range of issues with President Bush including on Iraq. As with previous Administrations, it is not the practice of this Government to make public details of discussions with foreign Governments.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will de-classify and place in the Library the Government documents published in the Daily Telegraph on 18 September about war with Iraq; whether these documents were disclosed to Lord Hutton and Lord Butler; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: No. The Government co-operated fully with the Hutton Inquiry and the Butler Review.

India

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister whether he asked the Indian Prime Minister about the prospects of India signing the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty during his meeting with him on 20 September.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Tony Blair: I discussed a range of bilateral and international issues with the Indian Prime Minister. I refer my hon. Friend to the joint India-United Kingdom declaration which is available on the No. 10 website.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Responsibilities

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which of the functions listed on page 6 of the Cabinet Office Departmental Report 2004 as having been exercised by the hon. Member for Paisley, South, when Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, will in future be exercised (a) by her and (b) by the right hon. Member for Darlington.

Ruth Kelly: Details of my responsibilities and those of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster can be found in the "List of Ministerial Responsibilities".
	A revised edition of the List of Ministerial Responsibilities (October 2004) has been published today and copies placed in the Library. It can also be obtained electronically at www.knowledgenetwork.gov. uk/elmr/minister.nsf.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Anthony Blunt

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what records are (a) open to public inspection and (b) withheld concerning meetings between Anthony Blunt and the late King George VI; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: As Anthony Blunt was not employed by HM Government prior to the death of George V in 1936, it is most unlikely that any record of his meetings would form part of the public record, whether open or withheld. A search in the electronic catalogue of public records kept by the National Archives does not reveal any records relating to Anthony Blunt which are dated during the reign of George V.

Anthony Blunt

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what records are retained that are (a) open to and (b) withheld from public inspection as to (i) the facilities that were extended by the Government to Anthony Blunt in order that he could fulfil his mission to Germany in 1945 at the request of HM King George VI and (ii) the purpose of that visit as understood by Her Majesty's Government at that time; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: A search of the National Archives' catalogue, which is publicly available on the internet, does not reveal any records relating to a visit to Germany made by Anthony Blunt in 1945. Neither is there a reference to the visit in the extensive index to Foreign Office papers available in the reading rooms at the National Archives.
	I am not aware of any other material held by Government Departments on this matter.

District Judges

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what child care provision is made available for primary carers who are district judges.

Christopher Leslie: While there is no specific judicial child care provision, all salaried judicial office holders are entitled to a range of employment benefits including Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave and Parental Leave. Office holders are also entitled to up to seven days special paid leave to address urgent domestic needs, and, with effect from 1 April 2005, part time working will become available for all judicial office holders below High Court level, subject to business needs.
	In addition, on 13 October the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs launched a consultation paper, "Increasing Diversity in the Judiciary", which examines the current lack of diversity in the judiciary and asks for views on a wide range of issues, including whether increased opportunities for flexible working would encourage people with other commitments, such as child care responsibilities, to apply for judicial office.

District Judges

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment has been made of the effects of the practice of advertising vacancies for district judges (crime) on the number of women applicants with families.

Christopher Leslie: None. However, on 13 October my Department launched a consultation paper, "Increasing Diversity in the Judiciary", which takes a radical look at the steps needed to widen the pool from which applicants for judicial appointment are drawn, while continuing to make appointments on merit. It examines the extent of, and the reasons for, the lack of diversity in the judiciary and the barriers that may discourage people from applying for judicial appointment. Information and communication strategies and the appointments process are among the areas covered by the paper. Comments and suggestions are invited by 21 January 2005.

Weekend Courts

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what kinds of case will be tried in the proposed weekend courts;
	(2)  what proposals the Secretary of State has for weekend courts in (a) district judge jurisdiction and (b) the Crown court;
	(3)  whether the proposed weekend courts will be piloted before being introduced nationally; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what provision will be made to take account of lawyers' family responsibilities in the proposed arrangements for weekend courts.

Christopher Leslie: On 13 October, the Secretary of State launched a consultation paper, "Increasing Diversity in the Judiciary", which examines the current lack of diversity in the judiciary and asks for views on a wide range of issues, including whether increased opportunities for flexible working would encourage people with other commitments, such as child care responsibilities, to apply for judicial office. One idea offered for discussion in this context is whether court sittings at the weekends or in the evenings might offer a means of introducing greater flexibility into the working arrangements of the judiciary. Were such a suggestion to be seriously considered in the future, it would be necessary to balance the interests of other groups, in particular our customers, against those of potential candidates for judicial appointment.
	At present, there are no plans to introduce weekend courts, beyond those arrangements already in place. Some magistrates courts, for instance, do regularly sit on Saturdays to conduct business. In particular, weekend courts in magistrates courts were considered as a result Lord Justice Auld review of the criminal courts. He recommended that there be a
	"thorough examination of the need for and the costs/benefits of extending court working hours . . . .".
	The Government, therefore, decided to pilot alternative working hours in magistrates courts in order to test possible improvements on the courts' efficiency and effectiveness in the interests of the whole criminal justice system. In consequence weekend, evenings and early morning courts were piloted in London and Manchester magistrates courts in 2002.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which establishments prisoners are kept in Afghanistan; how many prisoners are in each one; what assessment he has made of compliance with the Geneva Conventions in respect of such prisoners; which of the establishments the International Committee of the Red Cross are not allowed to visit; what the Government's position on access to such establishments by the International Committee of the Red Cross is; what representations have been made about such access; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Afghan government has a network of state prisons. The US-led Coalition has detention facilities at Bagram airbase and at other US bases in Afghanistan. There are also reports of illegal private prisons in Afghanistan, run by militia commanders.
	We do not have accurate information on the numbers of detainees held in prisons in Afghanistan. The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) believes that there are approximately 4,000 to 5,000 detainees in Afghan government prisons. The AIHRC estimates that the number of detainees in US detention is between 200 and 300. Up to 100 people may be detained in private jails.
	We understand the ICRC has had access to Afghan government prisons and to US detention facilities in Bagram and Kandahar. The UK welcomes this access, and calls for the ICRC to be given full access to detention facilities throughout Afghanistan. ICRC reports on detainees are, however, strictly confidential between the ICRC and the country concerned.
	The UK calls for prisoners' rights to be fully respected and due process to be applied to all prisoners, in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and international human rights law.
	In May 2004 the UK lobbied the Afghan government to ease overcrowding in Shiberghan prison in northern Afghanistan. Approximately 1,000 prisoners were transferred from the control of General Dostum to the Interior Ministry, and transferred to the central Pol-e-Charki prison in Kabul. The UN reported that conditions and respect for human rights had improved following the transfer.

Bangladesh

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has been informed that the perpetrators of the 21 August bombings in Bangladesh have been identified.

Douglas Alexander: No. We understand that a judicial inquiry has recently submitted its report to the Bangladeshi Government. Its findings have not been made public.

British Travellers (Safety)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with the Governments of (a) Thailand, (b) Vietnam, (c) Indonesia, (d) Cambodia and (e) Malaysia regarding the safety of British travellers.

Douglas Alexander: We regularly discuss with all these Governments issues which may affect the safety of British travellers. These issues include the threat from terrorism, transnational and local crime and health risks.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what recent dates discussions have taken place between representatives of the British Government and the representatives of the Greek Cypriot Government in Brussels; and what subjects were discussed.

Denis MacShane: I would like to apologise to my hon. Friend for the late reply to his question. This was the result of an administrative error. Measures have been taken to ensure that this does not happen again.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I meet our Greek Cypriot colleagues regularly, most recently in Brussels at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 11 October.
	I am looking forward to discussing a wide range of issues to promote the interests of all the people of Cyprus during a forthcoming visit to the island.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will oppose (a) the allocation of EU funds to and (b) the use of EU funds in Cyprus where such funds may be allocated to projects that involve, or pertain to, property of displaced persons who have not received compensation; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Government is committed to fulfilment by the EU of the mandate of the Council of Ministers to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. The planned disbursement of €259 million of EU funds is an important element of this. The regulation establishing an instrument of financial support for encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community which would enable it to do so is still under discussion. We hope the regulation will include the following phrase
	"the Commission shall act in accordance with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights".
	The Government considers that this should be sufficient to satisfy all those who have concerns regarding property in the north of Cyprus.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government has made of the compatibility of the Annan V Plan with the Law of the Sea Convention as it relates to the Republic of Cyprus's sovereign rights over Cyprus's territorial waters; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Government assessed and was satisfied that the Annan Plan was compatible with international maritime law.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received the European Commission's proposals for spending structural funds in Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not received any European Commission proposals on this subject. The Commission cannot finalise their proposals before the regulation establishing an instrument of financial support for encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community is agreed.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons United Kingdom representatives urged the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to delay pressing Turkey into ending property violations in Cyprus found by the European Court of Human Rights in the case Cyprus v. Turkey in May 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe was aware of the context in which the decision on Cypriot property was being made. If all sides had agreed to a settlement on the basis of the UN Secretary General's comprehensive settlement proposals then it would no longer be necessary to refer cases to the ECHR as property issues would be dealt with by a domestic court in Cyprus.
	The UK believed that achieving a Cyprus settlement and thus putting in place a domestic remedy for property disputes was more beneficial than pushing through an immediate decision on property violations at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
	We always encourage member states to comply with the court's judgments and will continue to do so.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if the Government will oppose initiatives in the UN for international recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his policy is on adherence to UN Security Council resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984) concerning Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Government are not aware of any initiatives in the UN for recognition of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". Moreover, the Turkish Cypriot leaders and Turkish Government have stated repeatedly that recognition is not their aim.
	The Government's policy on recognition of the "TRNC" has not changed. We do not recognise the "TRNC"; UNSCRs 541 and 550 remain valid.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make it their policy to require a timetable for the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus to be agreed as a precondition for the opening of negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The withdrawal of Turkish troops from the north of Cyprus is not a precondition for the opening of negotiation with Turkey.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the suggestion in paragraph 93 of the report of the UN Secretary General on his Mission of Good Offices in Cyprus concerning Security Council members giving a lead to states to co-operate to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers that have the effect of isolating Turkish Cypriots; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The British Government fully support the EU policy agreed at the April General Affairs and External Relations Council on 26 April to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. We welcomed the extra impetus given to that aim by the UN Secretary General's report on his Good Offices Mission. This policy is wholly in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions on Cyprus.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken to further the call by the UN Security Council to lift restrictions imposed by Turkey on the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Government have regular contact with the Turkish Government on a whole variety of issues including UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Over the last four years, we have repeatedly raised the need to lift restrictions on the UNFICYP.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps need to be taken to permit Cyprus to become a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; what steps the Government have taken to further Cyprus's application; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The OECD is currently working on establishing a set of objective criteria for its admission of new members, rather than making decisions on a case by case basis. While that work is still in progress, it would be premature to comment on an application by Cyprus to the OECD.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government concluded that the aide-memoire of the Republic of Cyprus handed to the UN on 20 April 2004 during the deliberations on the British-USA draft resolution constituted sufficient proposals for security within Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Government regret that efforts to provide reassurance to Greek Cypriots on the security and implementation aspects of the settlement prior to the referenda, via a strongly worded Security Council resolution, were unsuccessful. The draft resolution, jointly sponsored by the UK and US, received almost unanimous support in the Security Council, but was opposed by the Greek Cypriot side and subsequently vetoed by Russia.
	In its aide-memoire of 20 April, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus called on the Security Council not to adopt any resolution regarding the Cyprus Problem before the referendums. The aide-memoire contained the changes they deemed necessary to the draft UK-US sponsored resolution.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration was given to whether to ask the European Commission to consider the final Annan Plan for Cyprus in relation to its compatibility with the acquis communautaire; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The European Commission was present at the final stage of settlement negotiations. The commission was satisfied with the UN Secretary General's settlement plan and that where there were derogations from the acquis they were time limited. In his speech at the High Level Preparatory Donors' conference on 15 April, Commissioner Verheugen said:
	"I would like to stress that the Annan Plan is in line with the fundamental principles on which the European Union is founded and that the viability and the economic sustainability have been strengthened".

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which the Government have cautioned UK citizens about the possible liabilities and consequences of purchasing land and property in the northern occupied part of Cyprus, with particular reference to the success of negotiations towards a united Republic of Cyprus; what method was used in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Cyprus travel advice on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website: www.fco.gov.uk has very clear language on purchasing property in the north of Cyprus. We recommend that those considering buying property seek legal advice before doing so. We also draw attention to the political situation in Cyprus.
	The advice given to those who telephone the FCO or the British High Commission in Nicosia with a query regarding buying property in the north of Cyprus, is consistent with that available on the FCO website.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a representative of the UK Government discussed with (a) Kofi Annan and (b) Alvaro de Soto the documents of (i) 15 March 2004 and (ii) 20 April 2004 submitted by the Republic of Cyprus on security; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: British officials had regular exchanges with the UN Secretary General and the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Cyprus, Alvaro De Soto, on all aspects of security in the Annan Plan.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether the Government supported the provision in the Annan Plan to extend EU citizenship to Turkish citizens resident in Northern Cyprus; by what method it was proposed to identify those who would have so qualified; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many Turkish citizens who settled in occupied northern Cyprus would be eligible for EU citizenship under the final Annan Plan for Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: In the final version of the Annan Plan, the number of persons entitled to citizenship was not changed. The number of those resident in northern Cyprus of mainland Turkish origin who could become citizens of the new Cyprus was capped at 45,000, with preference given to spouses of Turkish Cypriots and people born in Cyprus. Others eligible were identified on the basis of length of stay. Each side submitted to the UN before the referenda on 24 April a list of less than 45,000 persons who would acquire citizenship, in addition to those who had citizenship in 1963 and their descendants, on entry into force of the Foundation Agreement.
	The Government supported the Annan Plan and continue to believe that it remains the only foreseeable basis on which a settlement can be achieved.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy was on the element of the Annan Plan for Cyprus that would have provided for a Turkish immigration quota allowing for further settlement from Turkey in a reunited Cyprus; what assessment he made of the (a) numbers and (b) time scale proposed; whether EU citizenship was to be extended to such settlers; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: As stated in Kofi Annan's report to the Security Council of 2 June (paragraph 50), a safeguard mechanism was introduced into the final version of the Annan Plan related to Greek and Turkish immigration. This was done in response to Greek Cypriot concerns that there be no continuous flow of Turkish immigrants to Cyprus. Instead of a permanent quota which could, theoretically, have been regularly refilled, the UN amended Annan V to include a cap on Turkish immigration of 5 per cent. as a proportion of Turkish Cypriots for 19 years. Thereafter, to preserve its identity, Cyprus could adopt specified non-discriminatory safeguard measures in conformity with the acquis communautaire in respect of immigration of Greek and Turkish nationals.
	The Foundation Agreement in the Annan Plan established the criteria of eligibility for Cypriot citizenship and residency. The federal citizenship law, as agreed by both sides during the negotiations, set out the detailed rules and procedures for granting citizenship of the new United Cyprus Republic. The full draft citizenship law can be found at www.cyprus-un-plan.org.
	The Government supported the UN Secretary-General's Proposals for a Comprehensive Settlement in Cyprus and welcomed the UN's attempts in the finalisation process to address Greek Cypriot concerns, including in relation to citizenship.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the number of Turkish settlers who are not de jure citizens of the Republic of Cyprus but who were included in the electoral roll used by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus when it conducted its referendum on the Annan Plan for Cyprus in April; what proportion in percentage terms this group constitutes as a share of total register; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We do not have an estimate of that figure. The UN was satisfied that the referendum was a fair expression of the Turkish Cypriots' desire to be part of a united island.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the decision not to incorporate the recommendations of the Technical Committee on Economic and Financial Aspects of Implementation into the fifth and final Annan Plan for a settlement in Cyprus; what representations the United Kingdom made in relation to the matter; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Government is not aware of such a decision.
	At the High Level Preparatory Donors' Conference on 15 April, representatives of the World Bank, the IMF and other international financial institutions, all concluded that the Annan Plan was economically viable. At the same event the international community pledged a significant amount of financial aid to Cyprus in the event of a settlement.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions were held at Bürgenstock on possible derogations from (a) EU and (b) other legislation relating to (i) human rights and (ii) property rights within Cyprus; what policy was adopted by United Kingdom representatives in relation to these topics; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: There were discussions at Buergenstock on all aspects of the Annan Plan, including property and human rights. The EU Enlargement Commissioner, Gunther Verheugen, was present during the final stage of negotiations at Buergenstock and was satisfied with all derogations and that they were time limited. In the final version of the plan, any restrictions would be removed after 15 years. The Government agrees with the Commission's view that the Annan Plan is in line with the fundamental principles on which the European Union is founded.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the documents distributed by British representatives at Bürgenstock meetings on Cyprus entitled (a) the UN Secretary General's Plan for a Cyprus settlement and (b) Cyprus: Bürgenstock: The Final Day (31 March 2004), summary; for what purposes these memorandums were distributed; and to whom.

Denis MacShane: British representatives did not distribute such documents at Buergenstock. They reported the developments to London by telegram in the normal fashion. These telegrams were marked restricted, were for UK use only and were not distributed to other participants at the Buergenstock meetings.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the European Council has been advised that the sovereign Republic of Cyprus shall be competent to define points of entry and exit of EU goods and people in the island of Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The European Council approved the terms of the Republic of Cyprus's accession to the EU.

Cyprus

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is towards the proposal set out by President Papadopoulos of Cyprus to the European Commission on 23 August 2004 that Varosha should be returned to the jurisdiction of the Republic of Cyprus and that the management of the port of Famagusta should be vested in a body representative of both communities and chaired by a nominee of the European Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The British government welcomes in principle any measure taken by either side in Cyprus with the aim of contributing to a climate of increased trust and confidence between the two communities. Where such measures need to be mutually agreed, clearly they should be balanced and realistic. However, such measures are not a substitute for a settlement based on the Annan plan.

East Timor

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of East Timor.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the President of East Timor Xanana Gusmao, during his visit to the UK in October 2003. My predecessor, the then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mike O'Brien) met East Timor's Foreign Minister, Dr. Ramos Horta, during his visit to the UK in June this year. Both meetings covered a wide range of topics including how to bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations in East Timor, East Timor's relationship with her neighbours, including boundary issues, and the future of the UN mission in East Timor (UNMISET).

EU Trade

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will urge the European Commission to examine the legality of trade by an EU State with any part of any EU territory where it is not possible to enforce the acquis communautaire; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Commission has examined the legality of direct trade with northern Cyprus in the context of the draft regulation it has presented to the Council to enable preferential direct trade between northern Cyprus and the rest of the EU. The Government agrees with the Commission's legal position and supports adoption of the regulation.

European Constitutional

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for the justice system in the UK of the clause on page 32 of the proposed European Constitutional Treaty, Cm 6289, which requires that the severity of sentences should not be disproportionate to the offence; and to which penalties this principle will apply.

Denis MacShane: The Government does not consider that there will be any direct implications from Article 11–49 (Command Paper 6289) for the UK justice system. The Article reflects the general principle of proportionality between penalties and criminal offences which is enshrined in the common constitutional traditions of the Member States, including the UK, and in the case law of the ECJ. Article 11–49 must moreover be read in conjunction with Article 11–51, which makes clear that the Charter only applies to member states when implementing Union law and does not extend the field of application of Union law.

European Constitutional

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the implications for the UK of the obligation on page 15 of the proposed European Constitutional Treaty, Cm 6289, to co-ordinate economic, employment and social policies.

Denis MacShane: The Constitution would not confer any new powers on the EU for the co-ordination of economic, employment and social policy. As under the current Treaty (TEC), Member States would co-ordinate their policies within the Union. The new Article I-14 (CIG 86/04) refers to the arrangements detailed in Part III of the Constitution which carry forward those already in place under TEC.

European Human Security Response Force

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the United Kingdom Government's policy is on the proposal to create a European Human Security Response Force.

Denis MacShane: The UK considers the proposal for a European Human Security Response Force put forward by the Study Group on Europe's Security Capabilities as an interesting contribution to the debate on how best to improve the EU's ability to prevent conflicts and respond to crises.
	As the paper points out, much is already being done under European Security and Defence Policy to improve military and civilian capabilities, through the Headline Goal and Action Plan for Civilian ESDP, and through improved civilian/military co-ordination. The agreed objective is to have more readily available and rapidly deployable civilian and military assets to underpin EU activity in conflict prevention and crisis management.

Iran

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Iran over the public hanging of Atefe Rajab in Neka in Nazandaran province on 15 August.

Bill Rammell: We have serious concerns about the use of the death penalty in Iran, including public executions and the execution of juvenile offenders. Reports suggest Ms Rajab, a 16-year-old girl, was hanged, in public, for 'acts incompatible with chastity'. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean has made our strong concern clear to the Iranian authorities. We also continue to raise our concerns about Iran's use of the death penalty through the EU/Iran human rights dialogue.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of Arabs being forced from their homes in Kirkuk and the surrounding area; who has been responsible for making them homeless; what his estimate is of the number of such displaced people residing in camps in north-central Iraq; what (a) position and (b) action the UK Government has taken on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Since the opening of the British Office in Kirkuk on 28 June 2004, neither they, nor the American Office, with whom they are collocated, are aware of any case where Arabisation Arabs (people that the Government of Saddam Hussein brought in to settle the North of Iraq in an attempt to change the demographics of the region) have been forced from their homes in Kirkuk. The British Office monitors closely the situation of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and relationships between the different ethnic groups in Kirkuk and the surrounding area, and reports on a regular basis to London. There are an estimated 50,000–70,000 IDPs in camps in Kirkuk and the surrounding area. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed these issues with local politicians during his visit to Kirkuk on 5 October and encouraged all to work together to resolve these issues, through political dialogue and the legal framework agreed in the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL).

Israel

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British volunteers were among the members of the Christian Peacemaker Team who were attacked and seriously injured near the Israeli settlement of Maon in the South Hebron Hills on 30 September; and if he will ask the Israeli government to take steps to ensure the safety of British members of the team engaging in peacemaking activities.

Bill Rammell: The British Consulate General in Jerusalem has not received any reports of British volunteers being involved in the incident in Hebron on 30 September. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers as well as officials based in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, have requested that the Government of Israel ensure the safety of all British citizens in the Occupied Territories. We also frequently raise with the Israeli authorities the cases of individual British nationals who have been detained by or come into conflict with Israeli security forces. British travellers should also, however, take responsibility for their own safety by paying careful attention to our Travel Advice for the Occupied Territories.

Maldives

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Maldivian Democratic Party.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). However officials in London and at our High Commission in Colombo maintain regular contact with representatives of the MDP.

Ministerial Travel

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of chartering an aeroplane for his recent trip to Sudan.

Jack Straw: pursuant to his reply, 15 September 2004, c. 1616W
	Due to an administration error, an incorrect answer was given to the right hon. and learned Gentleman's question. The answer should read as follows:
	The gross cost of chartering an aircraft for the return trip UK-Sudan-Kenya was £168,000. Accompanying media contributed £51,700, making a net cost of £116,300.

Oil for Food Programme

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many countries have instigated their own inquiries into alleged corruption at the UN during the Oil for Food Programme.

Bill Rammell: The Government of Iraq have instigated an investigation under the auspices of their Board of Supreme Audit. We are also aware that there are a number of hearings into the allegations of corruption under the Oil for Food Programme in both Houses of the United States Congress. The United Nations Secretary General has separately appointed an independent high-level inquiry into the allegations, which we support fully.

Oil for Food Programme

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the list published in the Iraqi newspaper al-Moda of those accused of corruption at the UN during the Oil for Food Programme in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: Allegations of corruption of the United Nations Oil for Food Programme are being investigated by the independent high-level inquiry appointed by the United Nations Secretary General in April 2004. We fully support the inquiry. It would be premature to comment on the allegations until the inquiry has reported its findings.

Oil for Food Programme

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the initial report of the Volcker Inquiry into alleged corruption at the UN during the Oil for Food Programme in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The first report of the United Nations independent high-level inquiry into allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the Oil for Food Programme was published on 9 August. The report provided background information on the Programme and the status of the inquiry, including its terms of reference and staffing details. It did not draw substantive conclusions. We look forward to the next report from the independent inquiry.

Oil for Food Programme

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the findings of the Iraq Survey Group in relation to allegations of corruption at the UN during the Oil for Food Programme in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The report of the Iraq Survey Group, published on 6 October, made a number of allegations with regard to the United Nations Oil for Food Programme. Such allegations are being investigated by the independent high-level inquiry appointed by the United Nations Secretary General in April 2004. We fully support the inquiry. It would be premature to comment on the allegations until the independent inquiry has reported its findings.

Ports Access

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will urge the European Commission to examine the legality of entry by merchant shipping of an EU state into part of an EU member state's territory where it is not possible to enforce the acquis communautaire; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Government does not believe that there is an issue over the legality of a merchant ship flying the flag of an EU Member State entering part of another Member State's territory where the acquis communautaire is not applied.

UK Mission (Bugging)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2004, Official Report, column 1438W, on UK Mission (bugging), what progress has been made by the Belgian authorities in identifying who had bugged the UK Mission in the Justus Lipsius Council of Ministers building in 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Belgian authorities have continued their investigations into the discovery of a number of devices in the Justus Lipsius Council of Ministers building last year. We and the other member states concerned are co-operating closely with the authorities.

Venezuela

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Venezuelan (a) Government, (b) opposition parties and (c) other interested parties; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 13 September 2004, Official Report, column 1456W.

Vietnam

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his European counterparts concerning a demarche to the government of Vietnam on the imprisoned human rights activist Reverend Nguyen Hong Quang; and what discussions he has had with the EU Commissioner for External Affairs concerning the case of Reverend Quang.

Douglas Alexander: We regularly discuss human rights issues in Vietnam, including freedom of religion, with our EU partners with a view to raising our concerns under the EU's regular formal human rights dialogue with the Vietnamese government.
	We will continue to press the Vietnamese government to adhere to its international human rights obligations at every suitable opportunity.

Vietnam

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with Vietnam.

Douglas Alexander: UK-Vietnam bilateral relations are healthy and strengthening. Alongside growing diplomatic, trade and development links, our relationship is also diversifying into new areas such as education and culture, discussions on human rights, and fighting international terrorism and crime.
	This year alone, there have been a number of high level visits. In October, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister led the UK delegation to the Asia-Europe Meeting V Summit in Hanoi. In May, the Vietnamese President Tran Due Luong made an official visit to the UK, where he met Her Majesty the Queen and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Vietnam, led by my hon. Friend, visited Vietnam in September.
	The Department for International Development's (DfID) fast growing aid programme is a key part of our strengthening bilateral relationship. UK development assistance to Vietnam is increasing from £20 million in 2003 to £60 million in 2005. DfID have just announced a new £10 million commitment to strengthen the Vietnamese Government's own poverty reduction programmes.
	The UK is one of the largest EU investors in Vietnam, with UK investment totalling approximately £2.2 billion and rising. Bilateral trade also continues to grow year-on-year and, in 2003, amounted to £1.0 billion. UK trade and investment is set to increase further following the recent EU-Vietnam bilateral agreement on the terms of Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organisation.

Vietnam

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the treatment of ethnic minorities in Vietnam.

Douglas Alexander: Ethnic minority groups in Vietnam live mostly in remote and mountainous areas, which also suffer the highest rates of poverty. The Vietnamese Government and international donors (including the Department for International Development) are investing heavily in these areas to reduce poverty rates among ethnic minority communities.
	During Easter 2004, there was unrest in the ethnic-minority populated central highlands region over land and religious freedom issues. Over recent years, some ethnic minority communities have lost traditional lands to Vietnamese inward migrants. Freedom of religion, especially among ethnic minority Protestants, is also not always respected at local level.
	We raise issues relating to ethnic minorities, including land and religious freedom, with the Vietnamese Government regularly. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about human rights in Vietnam with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister during the official visit of the Vietnamese President to London in May. The then Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) also raised these issues with the Vietnamese President on the same day. With EU partners, we again raised these issues at the most recent session of our regular EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue in June.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Ambulances

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many ambulances have been involved in road traffic accidents in the last two years in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: In the last two years for which information is available (15 April 2002 to 14 April 2004), 90 accident and emergency and 31 patient care service (non-emergency) Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) ambulances were involved in road traffic accidents. The number of road traffic accidents reported must be seen in the context of the 677,000 emergency and non-emergency patient journeys undertaken by the NIAS over the past two years, a significant number of which were undertaken in a high risk environment. NIAS remains fully committed to ensuring the safety of its service users and its staff.
	The Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety does not hold information about accidents involving other ambulance service providers in Northern Ireland.

Ambulances

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many road traffic accidents involving Mercedes Sprinter style ambulances there were in the last two years in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: In the last two years for which information is available (15 April 200214 April 2004), 64 Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Mercedes Sprinter AE ambulances were involved in road traffic accidents. I am not aware of any specific road safety issues in relation to the Mercedes Sprinter type ambulances.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety does not hold information about accidents involving other ambulance service providers in Northern Ireland.

Assets Recovery Agency

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) republican and (b) loyalist terrorists have been investigated by the Assets Recovery Agency in Northern Ireland; and how many people have been convicted in the courts following investigation.

Ian Pearson: The Assets Recovery Agency has had 44 cases referred to it by the law enforcement agencies. The cases cover the whole range of organised crime among all groupings and areas across Northern Ireland.
	The purpose of the Assets Recovery Agency is to reduce crime through civil recovery of assets and I do not, therefore, anticipate criminal convictions.
	Where criminal proceedings are appropriate, the case is referred back to the appropriate prosecuting authority.

Belfast Plan

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan for 2015 will be published.

Angela Smith: The publication date for the Plan is presently being finalised by my officials. It will be published in late November 2004.

Birds

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of (a) lapwing, (b) peeweet, (c) yellow yornie, (d) curlew, (e) corncrake, (f) buzzard and (g) peregrine falcons in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) monitors the populations of breeding and over-wintering birds in Northern Ireland. These surveys tend to assess the populations of the more common and widespread species. Less common species require targeted surveys to assess population trends.
	The species on which data have been requested are listed below; in each case, the figure is an estimate for the Northern Ireland population.
	The breeding population of Lapwing is estimated at 1600 pairs (2000).
	The wintering population of Lapwing: 17044 (2000). The peeweet is a local name for the Lapwing.
	The breeding population of Yellowhammer (yellow yornie): 300 pairs (2004).
	The breeding population of Curlew: 1750 pairs (2000).
	The wintering population of Curlew: 6893 (2001).
	The breeding population of Corncrake: 0 pairs.
	The breeding population of Buzzard: 200 pairs (1991).
	The breeding population of Peregrine Falcon: 72 pairs (2002).

Birds

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he will take to boost farmland bird numbers in the Province.

Angela Smith: Northern Ireland government departments, in partnership with voluntary organisations, have been involved in the development of actions plans at a UK and Northern Ireland level. These plans aim to increase populations of those species that have declined most severely, such as Skylark and Curlew; and to increase the extent and quality of the habitats they use. Plans for several additional species such as Yellowhammer and Lapwing are currently being prepared by my Department and will be published next year.
	The plans include a range of actions undertaken by Northern Ireland government departments, including research, site-based conservation activities and the provision of guidance and advice. Many of the most significant actions fall to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and are designed to encourage and support wildlife friendly farming practices. These include the continued development of agri-environment schemes such as Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) and the Countryside Management Schemes (CMS) and new initiatives such as Good Farming Practice.

Care Homes

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long residents of the Irish Republic are required to live in Northern Ireland before they can take up places at care homes in the Province.

Angela Smith: Once a person from outside the United Kingdom takes up permanent residence in Northern Ireland, he or she becomes eligible to receive health and social care on a similar basis to other residents.

Carers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) men and (b) women in Northern Ireland over state retirement age are caring for elderly parents or relatives.

Ian Pearson: The 2001 Census of Population showed that (a) 9,690 men and (b) 18,816 women, who were over state retirement age at the time of the Census, were involved in looking after or giving help or support to family members, friends, neighbours or others because of long-term physical or mental ill-health or disability or problems related to age. It is not possible to identify those who were caring specifically for elderly parents or relatives.

Carers

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what benefits are available for people reaching state pension age who still care for elderly parents or relatives in their retirement.

John Spellar: Carers of any age may be entitled to the full range of social security benefits depending on their individual circumstances. The most common benefits for carers of pensionable age are carer's allowance, retirement pension and pension credit. Many carers reaching pension age who are entitled to carer's allowance are also entitled to a retirement pension of an equal or higher amount. In these circumstances the overlapping benefits rules preclude the payment of carer's allowance. However, entitlement to carer's allowance is retained, allowing for extra help to be given to those entitled to pension credit.

Children

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress in implementing the Children Matter Task Force report which initiated the process of increasing and banding the range of children provision.

Angela Smith: The programme of capital developments set out in the Report of the Children Matter Task Force Phase 1 200103, has led to the development of an additional 77 residential child care places. When phase 1 is completed in 2005, 82 additional and 73 replacement residential child care places will have been provided. This will exceed the initial target of 77 new and 70 replacement places. It is anticipated that phase 2 of the Children Matter Task Force, will see the development of 49 new and 131 replacement residential child care places.

Departmental Recycling

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the latest available 12 month figures are for the proportion of the Department's redundant documentation, waste paper and card that is recycled; and if he will make a statement on the Department's recycling policy.

Angela Smith: The most recent figures available for Northern Ireland Government Departments, which show the proportion of redundant paper and cardboard that is recycled are for 200203. A total of 1,270 tonnes of waste paper was collected of which some 1,143 tonnes were recycled. This equates to 90 per cent. of the collected waste paper. The remaining 127 tonnes, which were unsuitable for recycling, were used as fibre fuel and therefore classed as being thermally recycled. There are no figures available for an overall paper recycling rate.
	The volume of cardboard collected during this time was negligible, at less than 10 tonnes per annum.
	The Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy, published in 2000 and currently under review, informs Government's waste management policy to encourage the sustainable management of resources in the NI economy.

Driving Tests

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many driving tests have been performed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The number of driving tests carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency in each financial year from 199798 to 200304 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  
		
		
			  Number 
			 199798 41,864 
			 199899 42,953 
			 19992000 41,607 
			 200001 44,359 
			 200102 48,583 
			 200203 48,359 
			 200304 51,867

Driving Tests

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time is in Northern Ireland for people applying to take a driving test.

Angela Smith: The average waiting time for a driving test appointment in Northern Ireland is currently 33 calendar days.

Ebrington Primary School

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will announce the commencement date for the building of the new Ebrington primary school in Londonderry.

Barry Gardiner: Schools competing for capital funds are prioritised based on educational need. Although Ebrington primary school was one of a number of schools that could not be accommodated in my Department's 2004 Capital Programme it will form part of the rolling programme of investment envisaged for the schools' estate. The Western Education and Library Board placed it eleventh on its own priority list for funding in 2003. At this stage, it is not possible to give a commencement date for when building on the new school for Ebrington primary school will start.

Endoscopes

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce the use of disposable endoscopes into NHS hospitals.

Angela Smith: Single-use flexible endoscopes are not currently available on the market. There are some single-use surgical rigid telescopes available but they have not been accepted in the HPSS due to the available optical quality and because rigid endoscopes are relatively simple to decontaminate compared to flexible endoscopes. The Department has recommended that the HPSS use single-use endoscope accessories where practicable.

Farm Payments

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 3 September 2004, Official Report, column 1481W, on farm payments, whether 96.14 per cent. of the total subsidy scheme expenditure had been paid before 30 September.

Ian Pearson: Yes.

Farm Payments

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what value of subsidy payments to farmers in the South Down area are outstanding.

Ian Pearson: The Department for Agriculture and Rural Development does not hold subsidy claim details on a constituency basis. The number and potential value, if paid in full, of farm subsidy claims currently outstanding is as follows:
	
		
			  Applications unpaid Value ( million) 
		
		
			 Beef Special Premium 3,595 1.1 
			 Slaughter Premium 1,706 0.6 
			 Suckler Cow Premium 338 0.4 
			 Extensification Payment 1,634 3

Health Service

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to reduce waiting times for people with hearing problems.

Angela Smith: Additional investment has been made in hospitals and other services here, including the allocation of an extra 8.5 million, of which 2.5 million is recurrent, to reduce waiting lists across all specialties, including ENT, in 200405. It is not possible to say what the specific impact will be on waiting times for people with hearing problems.
	Digital hearing aids were introduced on the health service in Northern Ireland in October 2003 on a phased basis. The Department has also allocated an additional 500,000 in 200405 to increase the provision of digital hearing aids, and I have set a target for Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts to supply 5,000 digital hearing aids per annum by 31 March 2005. This figure will be reviewed at the end of the year and increased as appropriate.

Health Service

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to combat risks to patient safety arising from parallel trade in medicines in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Under the European Directives on free trade, operating within the European Union, a medicine that has a marketing authorisation in another European country, subject to certain requirements, may be legally imported into the UK and supplied to patients. This is known as parallel importing and involves a rigorous regulatory framework that assures the safety, quality and efficacy of the medicine. Each medicine must have a Parallel Importation Product Licence (PIPL) issued by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) before it can be offered for sale by a UK pharmaceutical wholesaler and supplied through a registered community pharmacy.

Health Service

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of extra consultants which would be required if the consultant contract was accepted in the Province's hospitals.

Angela Smith: The new consultant contract has been accepted by the consultant workforce in Northern Ireland and is now being implemented throughout the HPSS subject to job plans being agreed locally between management and individual consultants. Information being gathered as part of the implementation process will identify where service gaps and pressures exist and will inform the medical workforce planning process. At present, it is too early to make any estimate of the numbers of additional consultant posts that might be required.

Health Service

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on how the 12 million reallocated to health in August will be used.

Angela Smith: Some 6 million has been made available non-recurrently to DHSSPS in August to support HPSS winter planning initiatives, such as reducing the number of trolley waits in accident and emergency, and boosting capacity through short-term community and primary care schemes to facilitate early discharge from hospital.
	In addition, some 6 million has been made available to support initiatives to reduce waiting lists and address other regional priorities such as the provision of Anti-TNF drugs.

Health Service

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what resources were allocated to the training of operating department practitioners within the Health Service in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: Training of operating department practitioners is a matter for individual trusts based on the identified need within their area. Information is not held centrally on resources allocated to such training.

Housing Executive Assessments

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Housing Executive grant assessments are outstanding in the South Down Area.

John Spellar: The information is not available in the format requested. Information relating to grant enquiries is held on a district council area basis. The South Down area is covered by three council areas and at 30 September 2004 the Housing Executive had registered a total of 996 inquiries for grant aid where inspections have not yet been carried out. The figures for each area are as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Banbridge council area 136 
			 Newry and Mourne council area 444 
			 Down council area 416

Housing Relocation (Intimidation)

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the use of alternative agencies to verify cases of intimidation for purposes of housing relocation.

John Spellar: In order to verify cases of intimidation, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will, in the first instance, contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to confirm whether, on the basis of their knowledge of a particular case, an applicant has been or is being intimidated from their home. Where the PSNI have no knowledge of intimidation, and an applicant is reluctant to make contact with them, the Housing Executive may seek information from Base 2, a project operated by the EXTERN voluntary organization, or from agencies such as Health Trusts, Social Services or from individuals.
	In all cases the final decision as to whether an applicant is at risk by remaining in their home rests with the Housing Executive.

Identity Cards

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on the introduction of an identity card scheme in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The draft Identity Cards Bill (published 26 April) set out the legal framework for the introduction of identity cards throughout the United Kingdom

Investment Projects

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent in the parliamentary constituencies of (a) North, (b) South, (c) East and (d) West Belfast on each investment project sponsored by the Industrial Development Board and Invest NI in the years 1990 to 2004; what the estimate was of the number of jobs that would be created by each project; how many jobs were created by each project; and how many of these jobs have subsequently been lost.

Barry Gardiner: The Question asked by my hon. Friend seeks information on each investment project assisted during the period 19902004. This level of detail could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For this reason and for ease of reference the answer presents a general analysis of investment activity in the four constituencies. The question also requests information for the period 19902004. However, data in the format required is only available for the period commencing 1995.
	Table 1: Projects by Constituency 19952004
	Table 1 provides details of projects supported by the Industrial Development Board (IDE) since 1995, and of those larger projects assisted by Invest NI since 2002. The answer is restricted to larger projects supported by Invest NI to ensure consistency with historical IDE data. Larger projects are those provided with offers worth more than 100,000.
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency/ Financial year Number of projects Number of jobs promoted Number of jobs safeguarded Total assistance offered (000) Total investment (000) 
		
		
			 Belfast East  
			 199596 2 0 656 6,841,200 58,330,000 
			 199697 4 95 0 1,781,500 11,758,630 
			 199798 8 769 917 25,506,517 136,030,244 
			 199899 5 1,186 165 7,093,240 15,372,000 
			 19992000 3 1,310 78 15,139,000 89,939,280 
			 200001 3 116 56 717,660 2,400,720 
			 200102 2 142 90 4,556,060 22,743,000 
			 200304 3 0 369 8,800,000 34,338,000 
			 Belfast East total 30 3,618 2,331 70,435,177 370,911,874 
			  
			  
			 Belfast North  
			 199596 3 138 3 1,081,350 3,246,000 
			 199697 6 117 251 5,456,346 36,496,886 
			 199798 6 639 220 8,206,450 35,538,000 
			 199899 1 250 0 2,493,811 3,670,000 
			 19992000 3 289 0 1,906,500 5,815,600 
			 200001 3 1,476 0 10,385,000 21,897,000 
			 200102 4 675 0 4,213,250 15,588,363 
			 200203 2 0 400 330,000 1,565,000 
			 200304 5 163 218 1,261,000 14,177,613 
			 Belfast North total 33 3,747 1,092 35,333,707 137,994,462 
			  
			  
			 Belfast South  
			 199595 3 93 61 482,200 2,640,000 
			 199697 4 203 15 1,674,446 6,148,007 
			 199798 5 1,571 134 9,406,456 19,900,058 
			 199899 15 1,034 52 7,017,014 19,360,750 
			 19992000 7 1,943 0 21,552,500 76,828,000 
			 200001 8 877 0 4,700,500 23,004,691 
			 200102 1 45 0 202,500 834,000 
			 200203 6 228 16 1,349,942 5,306,884 
			 200304 13 919 792 10,470,400 69,050,540 
			 Belfast South total 62 6,913 1,070 56,855,958 223,072,930 
			  
			  
			 Belfast West  
			 199596 5 477 24 14,385,420 36,404,934 
			 199697 7 810 772 32,416,620 109,369,359 
			 199798 3 346 0 7,068,250 24,185,000 
			 199899 1 75 0 700,950 2,446,200 
			 19992000 1 314 0 6,325,200 17,413,000 
			 200001 3 385 0 2,455,550 9,678,000 
			 200102 2 215 60 4,536,000 23,947,000 
			 200203 4 122 80 1,464,500 9,419,000 
			 200304 3 167 70 6,144,372 19,266,881 
			 Belfast West Total 29 2,911 1,006 75,496,862 252,129,374 
			  
			  
			 Grand Total 154 17,189 5,499 238,121,704 984,108,640 
		
	
	Table 2: Employment Change 19952004
	Table 2 presents a net employment figure at 200304, taking into account job losses from the base year to 200304. As shown within Table 2 there were 13,048 jobs in existence within these businesses at the time of assistance (base year). The table also details the number of jobs expected to be created (17,189). The net change within this group to 2004 is therefore 4,685.
	However, it should be noted that since it takes a number of years for each project to reach maturity, those assisted within the last four years are unlikely to have yet met their full employment creation potential. Therefore, the job creation arising from these projects, which account for 5,530 of the jobs promoted, will not be fully reflected within this analysis.
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Number of clients Number of projects Average base employment New jobs promoted Average BMP 03/04 
		
		
			 Belfast East 20 30 7609 3,618 7,697 
			 Belfast North 24 33 1187 3,747 1,987 
			 Belfast South 51 62 1585 6,913 4,173 
			 Belfast West 19 29 2666 2,911 3,876 
			 Total 114 154 13,048 17,189 17,733 
		
	
	Table 3: Job Losses 19952004
	Table 3 provides further details of the employment lost due to closures during the nine-year period. This shows that 726 jobs were lost within 26 projects involving existing businesses, which closed during the period 199596 to 200304.
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency  Number of clients  Employment losses 
		
		
			 Belfast East 2 9 
			 Belfast North 7 299 
			 Belfast South 11 119 
			 Belfast West 6 299 
			 Total 26 726

Londonderry Airport

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will announce his response to the request from the city council in Londonderry regarding financial assistance to develop Londonderry airport.

John Spellar: A steering group set up by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and chaired by the council's Chief Executive is currently considering a range of technical, legal, economic and financial issues regarding the funding application. I hope that it will report shortly so that a decision can then be made.

Meat/Poultry Products

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which countries have a ban on imports of meat or poultry products from the province; and what representations he has made to have each ban lifted.

Ian Pearson: Currently some 86 countries have a ban on beef imports from the United Kingdom and the position in relation to another 27 countries has still to be confirmed. In addition, I understand that India also has a worldwide ban on imports of poultry meat. Controls for trade with countries outside the United Kingdom is a reserved matter under the Northern Ireland Act 1998. However, officials in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are in regular contact with the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which has responsibility on this matter for the United Kingdom. These contacts follow liaison with exporters with the mutual aim of maximising exports of meat and poultry products from Northern Ireland.

MOT Tests

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are employed in carrying out MOT tests in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency currently has 194 full-time equivalent staff directly involved in carrying out vehicle inspections.

MOT Tests

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time for an MOT test in Northern Ireland is from the time of application to the test being carried out.

Angela Smith: The average waiting time for vehicl tests in Northern Ireland, including MOT appointments, is currently 63 calendar days.

MOT Tests

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money is allocated to running each MOT centre in Northern Ireland in the current year.

Angela Smith: The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency manages the test centre budget centrally, so specific allocations have not been made to each centre in the current year. However, the direct running costs for 200304 are as follows:
	
		
			 Test centre  
		
		
			 Armagh 626,393 
			 Ballymena 1,070,215 
			 Belfast (including Dill Road) 1,520,176 
			 Coleraine 960,337 
			 Cookstown 880,503 
			 Craigavon 1,033,785 
			 Downpatrick 708,080 
			 Enniskillen 640,603 
			 Larne 708,086 
			 Lisburn 867,089 
			 Londonderry (including Waterside House) 891,877 
			 Mallusk 1,012,186 
			 Newry 883,780 
			 Newtownards 1,241,256 
			 Omagh 655,387

National Sports Stadium

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to make an announcement regarding the construction of a new national sports stadium for Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Following the completion of a business planning exercise commissioned by the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) into the viability of a multi-sports stadium for Northern Ireland. The SIB was asked last May to investigate site and funding options. I expect to have a report on the outcome of this exercise within a few weeks and, once this has been formally considered, an announcement on the next stage in the process will be made.

National Insurance Numbers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) target and (b) average processing time is from receipt of application to delivery of notification for persons applying for a national insurance number where the applicant holds a passport that is (i) British, (ii) Irish, (iii) other EU and (iv) non-EU; and how many complaints about delays he has received in the past 12 months.

John Spellar: There is currently no target for the processing of national insurance number applications in Northern Ireland. (GB has a processing target of 86 per cent. within 24 days.)
	There are three application centres located at Shaftesbury Square, Lisnagelvin and Portadown Jobs and Benefits Offices which feed into one allocation centre, located at Portadown Jobs and Benefits Office. Processing times from receipt of application to delivery of notification are as follows:
	Shaftesbury Square 29 days;
	Lisnagelvin 39 days;
	Portadown 55 days.
	These cannot be broken down into different passport holder types.
	Three formal complaints are recorded as having been received in Northern Ireland Offices in the past 12 months.

Overseas Nurses

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance is given to overseas nurses seeking accommodation in the Province while working there, with particular reference to those from outside the European Union.

Angela Smith: The issue of assistance in seeking accommodation for overseas nurses is a matter for individual Trusts. There are a variety of arrangements in place ranging from the provision of Trust accommodation to the identification of suitable private or Housing Executive accommodation.

Planning Permission

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for how many new residential dwellings planning permission was given in (a) Moira, (b) Aghalee, (c) Magheralin, (d) Dollingstown, (e) Donaghacloney, (f) Waringston, (g) Maghaberry and (h) Aghagallon in each of the last 15 years.

Angela Smith: I regret that this information is not available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

PWS Ireland

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much grant aid has been awarded to the company PWS Ireland in each year for the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: Over the past 10 years, PWS Ireland Ltd has received the following support from Invest NI (these figures include support offered by Local Enterprise Development Unit one of Invest NI's predecessor agencies).
	
		
			   000 
			  Amount offered Amount paid 
		
		
			 1995 20,650 16,685 
			 1996 3,000 1,693 
			 1997 2,350 2,350 
			 1998 (8)81,450 69,701 
			 1999 5,852 5,835 
			 2000 301 301 
			 2002 14,307 14,307 
			 2004 24,644 5,964 
			 Total 152,554 116,836 
		
	
	(8) Offer includes 20,000 of preference shares.

Scientific Officers (Promotion)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what independent assessment has been made of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's promotion boards for scientific officers.

Ian Pearson: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's promotion boards for scientific officers are operated under the general arrangements that apply to the conduct of internal promotion boards across the Northern Ireland Civil Service. By agreement with Trade Union Side, these promotion boards are conducted on the basis of three separate scientific disciplines: biology, chemistry and microbiology; and candidates, subject to their qualifications and experience, can self-nominate to be considered for promotion in one or more of these disciplines.
	The outcome and recommendations of promotion boards generally are not subject to separate independent scrutiny. In its general administration of the promotion process, however, the Department's Personnel Division carries out a review of all promotion board documentation to ensure compliance with the requirements of the process and mathematical accuracy of the scoring applied. These aspects are also subject to periodic checks through the internal audit process.

Scientific Officers (Promotion)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what relative weighting is given by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's promotion boards for scientific officer positions to applicants who have previous scientific experience.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 13 October 2004, Official Report, column 314W, for details of the last promotion board for scientific officer positions.
	The key selection criteria against which candidates were assessed for promotion by the board, the weightings and pass marks as determined by the panel members were as follows:
	
		
			 Key criteria Weighting Pass mark 
		
		
			 Services 20  
			 Resources 20  
			 People 30 15 
			 Information/Communication 30 15 
			 Professional/Specialist/Technical Knowledge and Skills 50 30 
		
	
	Any candidate failing to reach the minimum standard of 30 marks at interview for the Professional/Specialist/Technical Knowledge and Skills criterion was deemed unsuitable for promotion regardless of how well they performed against the remaining criteria.

Self-harm

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many episodes of self-harm there were in each health trust area in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: Information on the total number of episodes of self-harm is not available. However, information is available on the number of episodes of self-harm resulting in admission to acute hospitals in Northern Ireland.
	The following table provides figures on the number of admissions to hospitals in each trust area in Northern Ireland as a result of self-harm for each year from 200001 to 200203 (the latest year for which the data is available).
	
		Number of admissions(9) to hospital for self-harm by trust, 200001, 200102 and 200203
		
			  200001 200102 200203 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 821 1,018 1,106 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 789 879 875 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 447 412 265 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group  HSS Trust 779 995 818 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust 388 616 514 
			 Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust 2 0 0 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital  HSS Trust 183 421 344 
			 Newry and Mourne HSS Trust 498 521 419 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 698 758 781 
			 Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust 263 266 273 
			 Ulster Community and Hospitals  HSS Trust 759 740 689 
			 United Hospitals HSS Trust 1,111 1,178 1,049 
			 Total 6,738 7,802 7,133 
		
	
	(9) Deaths and discharges are an approximation for admissions.
	Source:
	Hospital Inpatients System (DHSSPS)

TK-ECC Plant

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which estate agent was appointed to facilitate the sale of the former TK-ECC plant in Dundonald; when the agent was appointed; when the successful offer was received; how many parties had expressed interest in the site by the date on which the deal was signed; how much the plant was sold for; and whether the buyer subsequently sold the site.

Barry Gardiner: The TK-ECC plant at Dundonald was sold in 1995 by IDB to European Components Corporation on a freehold basis. Subsequent actions including the offering of the premises for sale are matters for the present owners of the premises.